Merck to build $55m German plant for its allergy business
The site, in Reinbek near Hamburg, Germany will have an area of more than 6,000m2 containing cleanrooms for production, as well as plant engineering technology, and is being built - in part - to expand production of allergy therapies in new markets, including China.
The firm’s Allergen-specific immunotherapy involves administering increasing doses of allergens with the aim of improving the allergic response and is, according to Allergopharma, the only causal treatment for allergies to unavoidable allergens available.
“We want to fully exploit the potential of our business, whether in Emerging Markets or in rapidly growing and highly promising areas such as the global allergy market,” Stefan Oschmann, a Merck executive board member said.
“With this investment, which is largest in the history of Allergopharma, Merck is setting an important milestone to expand the Allergy business internationally and to secure the future of the Reinbek site.”
The facility is expected to be completed in 2016 and will employ, initially, 40 people.
