Merck & Co courts Washington with Delaware build statement

US pharma giant Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) has started building a $1 billion, 470,000-square-foot biologics center of excellence in Wilmington, Delaware.

Described as a cornerstone of the company’s continued commitment to investing in US innovation and infrastructure in an era when such sentiment is politically expedient and being echoed by numerous other USA-based pharma majors, Merck Wilmington Biotech will comprise laboratory, manufacturing and warehouse capabilities.

This will enable the launch and commercial production of new biologics and therapies including potent antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), reinforcing Merck’s focus on expanding and diversifying its pipeline.