Global healthcare company Merck has opened its new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Hangzhou, China. The facility, located in the Hangzhou Economic and Technology Area (HEDA), will package Merck medicines for China and the Asia Pacific region and will become a critical part of Merck's global supply chain. 

The new facility is 75,000 square meters and is capable of holding up to 16 high speed lines to package pharmaceutical tablets and sterile Merck medicines. Products used in Merck's clinical studies and in its commercial activities to support future new product launches also will be packaged at the new HEDA plant. The facility is fully compliant with the rigorous quality, environmental, safety and compliance standards that all Merck manufacturing facilities worldwide meet. The HEDA facility received a current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) certification in January 2013.

"This new facility helps Merck to achieve our mission of helping the world be well by bringing our innovative, high-quality medicines to more patients in China," said Willie A. Deese, executive vice president and president of Merck Manufacturing. "It also extends our long-standing partnership with the Chinese government and our unequivocal commitment to help broaden access to quality healthcare throughout China."

The facility—a nearly $120 million investment by Merck—deepens Merck's growing R&D, manufacturing and commercial presence in China. Merck also has an R&D center in Beijing, three manufacturing facilities throughout the country, a marketing and sales organization headquartered in Shanghai and employs more than 5,000 employees in China.

"Merck built its first China plant in 1994 in Hangzhou," said Pam Cheng, president of MSD China. "Today, 20 years later, we are celebrating this new plant in Hangzhou that marks another milestone in our commitment to invest in China and further demonstrates the importance of China to Merck. We are pleased to witness the rapid growth in the country's healthcare system, and are proud to be part of the reform that is underway across China's healthcare industry."