Collaboration
ITRI and Merck Launch Biopharma R&D and Training Program Aiming to Enhance New Drug Manufacturing Processes in Taiwan
The global biopharma market is growing rapidly and is estimated to reach US$278 billion in 2020. In addressing this trend, ITRI and international pharmaceutical and chemical company Merck signed an MoU in March, announcing the establishment of Taiwan-Merck Biopharma R&D & Training Collaboration Program at ITRI GuangFu Innovation Campus in Hsinchu. Officially launched in May, the program will combine the R&D resources from ITRI with key technologies and manufacturing processes from Merck to cultivate high-end professionals and strengthen the biopharma industry in Taiwan.
Andrew Bulpin, Head of Process Solutions, Life Science business of Merck, commented on the collaboration between ITRI and Merck.
The initiative plans to cover three main areas: the introduction of advanced production technology, the transfer of pharmaceutical know-how, and the cultivation of biotech talent. All of these will enhance Taiwan’s biopharma production competence, expand the global market share of its pharmaceutical industry, and create new business opportunities in precision medicine.
“Through this program, Merck will provide specialized courses taught by their experts utilizing state-of-the-art pharmaceutical production equipment,” said ITRI Chairman Lee. “The training will prepare high-level biotech talents in Taiwan to assist industrial, academic, and research organizations in familiarizing themselves with international regulatory standards and innovative and effective production methods for a new generation of biomedical products.” According to Dr. Chii-Wann Lin, ITRI’s Vice President and General Director of its Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories, the training will include the basics and actual operation of non-GMP practices to enhance key drug manufacturing technical skills.
Nearly 120 high-level biopharma production professionals are expected to be trained in less than two years. The planned collaboration would constitute an enormous boost for Taiwan in its development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), contributing to the growth of the local biomedical industry.
Udit Batra, Member of the Merck Executive Board and CEO, Life Science, indicated that Merck has been working closely with the biomedical industry across the globe and understands the time-consuming nature as well as the complexity involved for the clinical manufacturing process. Therefore, Merck adopts a robust and reliable platform to accelerate the success of GMP production. In this collaboration, Merck will share best practice approaches and offer education by industry experts, which may further elevate the expertise to develop ADCs manufacturing process in a faster, safer and more flexible manner. He stressed that the goal of this planned collaboration will be to ensure that customers have access to the technology they need to develop pharmaceuticals that improve health.
Willem Kools, Merck Life Science Global Head of Technology Management of Process Solutions Business, expressed that Merck is honored to have the opportunity to work with ITRI, a world-class applied technology research organization that possesses not only leading technology in biomedicine, but also interdisciplinary technology R&D capabilities. He pointed out that ITRI is the backbone of the development of Taiwan’s biotech pharmaceutical industries. The partnership with ITRI will allow Merck to further contribute its expertise to help advance the biopharma industry in Taiwan. The company also looks forward to exploring ITRI’s wealth of expertise and developing new technologies together.