- €150M investment in Aubonne, Switzerland, for biotech medicines.
- New building to be completed in 2020, labs operational in 2021, and aseptic filling lines by 2023.
- New lines will produce up to 27 million vials per year.
- Merck has invested over 1 billion Swiss francs in Switzerland over the past ten years.
Investment Overview
Merck is investing €150 million (165 million Swiss francs) to expand its manufacturing site in Aubonne, Switzerland. This expansion aims to increase the production capacity for biotech medicines, addressing the growing global demand for treatments such as Gonal-f®, Bavencio®, and investigational cancer treatment M7824 (bintrafusp alfa).
Project Details
The investment includes the construction of a new building equipped with advanced technologies for aseptic filling and quality control. The facility will feature isolator technology for injectable medicines, with separate lines for freeze-dried and liquid formulations. This upgrade will replace existing infrastructure, enhancing productivity and capacity to produce up to 27 million vials annually.
Timeline
Construction of the new building is expected to be completed in 2020. The new quality control labs will become operational in 2021, and the aseptic filling lines will be validated and operational by 2023, following regulatory approval. The entire project is designed to meet the highest international standards for quality, environment, health, and safety.
Strategic Importance
Switzerland, particularly the sites in Aubonne and Vevey, serves as Merck’s primary hub for manufacturing biotech medicines. Over the past decade, Merck has invested more than 1 billion Swiss francs (€800 million) in Switzerland, underscoring the strategic importance of the country. Merck employs 2,300 people across 11 locations in Switzerland, contributing significantly to the local economy and the global supply of biotech medicines.
