Merck Breaks Ground on $1 Billion Biologics Center of Excellence in Delaware

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Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced on April 29, 2025 that it has begun construction on a $1 billion, 470,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art biologics center of excellence in Wilmington, Del. (1). In a press release, Merck said its focus on broadening and diversifying its pipeline and its commitment to investing in innovation and infrastructure within the US are among the reasons for the new facility, which will be called Merck Wilmington Biotech and be located at Chestnut Run Innovation & Science Park (CRISP). The company said it will house laboratory, manufacturing, and warehouse capabilities (1).

“The decision to build a new biologics facility in Wilmington demonstrates our commitment to advancing US manufacturing and partnering in communities where our employees live and work,” said Sanat Chattopadhyay, executive vice president and president, Merck Manufacturing Division, in the press release (1). “As a hub for life science, research and development, and pharmaceutical manufacturing, CRISP offers unparalleled opportunities for future expansion.”

The announcement comes at a time when many in the bio/pharmaceutical industry are uncertain about their prospects for offshoring, and considering consolidating operations intended for the US market within the country, as a result of tariffs enacted by President Donald Trump’s administration (2).

In addition to enabling the launches and commercial production of next-generation biologics and therapies—including potent antibody-drug conjugates—Merck said it hopes the facility will become the future US home for producing pembrolizumab (under the brand name Keytruda) for US patients (1). Keytruda, a humanized monoclonal antibody, is an anti-programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) therapy that increases the immune system’s ability to detect and fight tumor cells; it has been indicated for treatments of a variety of cancers in the US.

Production of investigational compounds is slated to start by the year 2030 (1).

The creation of the new facility will result in roughly 4000 construction jobs, according to Merck, and eventually more than 500 full-time roles (1). Potential further expansion could create another 1500 full-time positions and 26,000 more construction jobs.

“The Merck Wilmington Biotech site represents our continued commitment to growing our investments in US manufacturing and has the potential to create thousands of high-paying American jobs while ensuring that we can produce and distribute products close to patients right here in the US,” said Robert M. Davis, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck, in the press release (1).

“This new site in Delaware is on the cutting edge of innovation, helping lead the way as we transform medicine and technology,” said Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer, also in the release (1). “Merck is pioneering the next generation of care right here in Wilmington, and they couldn’t have picked a better place to do it. The positive impact this will have on Wilmington and the state of Delaware is exciting, and this is the just the beginning.”

Making the laboratory component fully operational by 2028, as Merck said in the release, is a key detail; the April issue of BioPharm International® identified that as the year Merck is scheduled to lose its patent on pembrolizumab (3).

In September 2024, Keytruda was among 12 drugs granted extended indications by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency (4).

References

1. Merck. Merck Wilmington Biotech will serve as a launch and commercial production facility and the future U.S. home for Keytruda. Press Release. April 29, 2025.
2. Lavery, P. Tariff Pause Reinforces Uncertainty Among Biopharma Professionals. BioPharmInternational.com, April 10, 2025.
2. Hennessy, M. Facing the Latest Patent Cliff. BioPharm International 2025, 38 (3).
3. EMA. Meeting Highlights from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) 16–19 September 2024. Press Release. Sept. 20, 2024.