Merck expands biosafety testing laboratory in Singapore to strengthen services across Asia Pacific

This press release was issued by Merck.

• Expansion adds first BioReliance^® Cell Line Characterization and GMP Next-Generation Sequencing in Asia Pacific 
• Enhanced testing capabilities to deliver speed, sensitivity, and sustainability for biopharma customers in the region 
• Supports industry shift to molecular methods and animal-free testing

Merck, a leading science and technology company, is expanding its Singapore lab to further strengthen analytical and biosafety testing services for customers across the Asia Pacific region. Biosafety testing is a critical step in the drug development and manufacturing process, helping to ensure that biologics are safe, effective, and compliant with regulatory requirements.

The expansion builds on Merck’s global testing expertise of more than 75 years and marks a significant milestone in providing an advanced, local contract testing services portfolio for the region’s growing biopharma industry.

Merck’s Singapore laboratory will become the first BioReliance^® facility in Asia-Pacific to offer both Cell Line Characterization services and GMP next-generation sequencing (NGS) capabilities. It will also offer advanced molecular methods including Blazar^®, a proprietary platform for rapid virus detection.

The expanded facility aims to support the industry’s move towards state-of-the-art quality control testing of biologics and 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement of animal use) through advanced molecular methods.

The Singapore BioReliance^® lab was opened in 2018, and the expansion will bring the total lab area to over 1,000 square meters. This expansion is also a key step in Merck’s broader strategy to support the region’s dynamic life science ecosystem and drive scientific progress.