Merck Launches Industry’s First Off-the-Shelf Cell Culture Media for Perfusion Processes

• Increases manufacturing flexibility
• Exceptional performance and consistency required for high-density perfusion cell culture processes

Darmstadt, Germany, May 15, 2017 — Merck, a leading science and technology company, today took a significant step toward increasing manufacturing flexibility and enabling higher productivity with the launch of the EX-CELL® Advanced™ HD Perfusion Medium. This first off-the-shelf, high-density cell culture media supports perfusion processes at low perfusion rates, increasing production yield and speed to clinic.

Biomanufacturers are moving toward perfusion processes, the next generation in manufacturing, as they seek to cut costs while increasing quality and efficiency. Perfusion processes, however, require a new type of medium. Merck’s EX-CELL® Advanced™ HD Perfusion Medium meets “next-gen” manufacturing requirements, allowing customers to achieve a more optimal output than they would using conventional batch or fed-batch processes.

“This launch is a major milestone on the road to truly enabling next generation processing,” said Udit Batra, Member of the Merck Executive Board and CEO, Life Science. “The benefits of perfusion technology include increased cost efficiency, decreased risk and enhanced manufacturing flexibility—ultimately advancing our customers’ production capabilities and increasing access to therapies for people worldwide.”

A benefit of perfusion processing is higher protein yields, compared with fed-batch, which has been the primary mammalian cell cultivation mode for biopharma manufacturing over the past few decades. Perfusion technology is compatible with small portable plants and can be used with many drug types over a range of production scales.

Merck’s EX-CELL® Advanced™ HD Perfusion Medium is the most recent addition to the company’s EX-CELL® Advanced™ product line, which offers increased performance, streamlines regulatory compliance and provides the supply chain security needed in today’s evolving biopharmaceutical environment.

About Merck

Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science, and electronics. Around 58,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene-editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2020, Merck generated sales of € 17.5 billion in 66 countries.

Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck’s technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Electronics.