Merck & Co opens Asia-Pacific HQ in Singapore

US drug major Merck & Co, which operates in the Asia-Pacific region under the corporate name Merck Sharp & Dohme, has opened its regional headquarters in Singapore at Parkview Square. The move is part of the company's global strategy to strengthen its focus on emerging markets.

Merck chief executive Richard Clark praised Singapore's favorable business environment, noting that it offers "strong intellectual property protection, modern physical and regulatory infrastructure and a highly-skilled and educated professional workforce." He added that the total investment in Singapore arising out of the relocation will supplement initiatives ongoing in Singapore, including chemical and pharmaceutical operations and the installation of state-of-the-art technologies to support introduction of new products.

The new Asia-Pacific Regional headquarters builds on an already strong manufacturing presence in Singapore, where the firm has recently completed a $100.0 million investment at their Tuas Biomedical Park facility to support future new product introductions, including an investigational medicine for lipid management (MK-524) that is currently in Phase III development. This brings the company's total investments in Singapore to more than $650.0 million in facilities that span 49 acres in Tuas, producing both active pharmaceutical ingredients as well as finished products for sale worldwide.