Merck's unit Allergopharma plans Euro 40 mn facility in Germany

Germany-based Merck has commenced construction of a new production facility for its Allergopharma unit in Reinbek near Hamburg. The new facility, which is estimated to cost nearly Euro 40 million, will be used, among other things, to expand production to serve new markets such as China. In the two-story building, which will be constructed on the current Allergopharma premises, products for the diagnosis and treatment of type 1 allergies such as hay fever or allergic asthma are to be manufactured under ultrapure, sterile conditions. Completion of the building is scheduled for 2016.
 
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“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. By offering a highly competitive product range, we want to continue to tap the global allergy market,” said Stefan Oschmann, Merck Executive Board member with responsibility for Pharmaceuticals, including the Allergopharma unit.
 
The new building will have a surface area of more than 6,000 m2 and will contain cleanrooms for production, as well as plant engineering technology and offer space for further laboratory use as well as a visitors foyer. Initially, around 40 people will work in the new building.
 
The market for allergy therapies (excluding symptomatic treatments) is showing strong global growth. The high world-wide market growth expected by market researchers will be generated on the one hand by an increasing number of people with allergies, and on the other hand by increasing use of specific immunotherapy in many emerging markets. Global growth is estimated to be between 5% and 10% per year.