The American Biopharmaceutical Giant Merck announced the start of construction for $ 1 billion, 470,000 state-of-the-art biological square meters in Wilmington, by.
The Merck Wilmington Biotech project, the project is located in a leased place in Chestnut Run Innovation & Science Park (CRISP), a former Dupont Research Center of 164 Acres, which already has several Labor Research Centers and Centers. According to Merck, the new facility will include laboratory, manufacturing and warehouse capabilities for producing biological and next generation therapies, including powerful antibody conjugation (ADCS) through automated processes, artificial intelligence software and other new technologies.
The laboratory component is expected to be fully operational for 2028, with the production of planned research compounds to begin by 2030, according to Merck. Plans also call for future expansion to the site, including the manufacture of immunotherapy of Merck Keytruda cancer immunotherapy and other biological products.
Jacobs is the engineering contractor for this project, which received a $ 30.2 million grant from Delaware Development Finance Board at the beginning of the year. The company’s presentation to the agency estimated that construction would cost about $ 330 million. $ 290 million will be spent on new equipment and machinery, while $ 80 million will be used for other updates.
Merck claims that he is planning more than $ 9 billion of additional investment over the next four years, including $ 3.5 billion in biological manufacturing sites and small molecules and capabilities. The company has recently completed the construction of 1 million dollars of 225,000 meters of vaccine production in Durham, NC
