MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has announced the opening of a new Asia-Pacific Bioprocessing Production Center in Daejeon, South Korea.

The company said the center represents an investment of more than USD 335.75 million, making it the company's largest Life Science investment in the Asia-Pacific to date. The announcement was dated 29 October 2026 from Burlington, Massachusetts.

A Large Site Aimed at Regional Capacity

The Daejeon facility covers 44,500 square meters and expands the company's regional manufacturing capacity for critical materials and solutions used in the development and production of biologic medicines.

According to the company, the site gives biopharmaceutical manufacturers across Asia-Pacific closer access to the materials and solutions they need to develop and produce biologic medicines.

The opening advances what the company describes as its in-region-for-region strategy, which is intended to bring critical products closer to customers across Asia-Pacific.

The company also highlighted that the facility is designed to eliminate on-site fossil fuel use and to improve energy and water efficiency and that integrated digital systems at the site support automated data capture and end-to-end batch traceability.

Executive Perspective on Supply Confidence

Jean-Charles Wirth, Member of the Executive Board and CEO of Life Science of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, framed the investment in terms of supply reliability. "Reliable access to critical materials is essential at every stage of biologics manufacturing," Wirth said.

He added that Daejeon brings advanced production closer to biopharma manufacturers across Asia-Pacific, giving them greater supply confidence as they move from development to commercial scale.

Wirth said the center adds the regional capacity customers need and delivers the quality and consistency they expect from the company.

Products to Be Supplied from Daejeon

From Daejeon, the company will supply bioprocessing products used from early process development through commercial-scale manufacturing.

Several product categories were listed, including cell culture media in dry powder and liquid formats, as well as pre-GMP small-scale custom products offered through imMEDIAte ADVANTAGE®.

They also include process liquids and ready-to-use cleaning-in-place solutions, as well as single-use sterile sampling solutions based on the NovaSeptum® Sterile Sampling System.

The range spans materials that biologics manufacturers use at different points in the production lifecycle, from the earliest stages of process development to commercial-scale manufacturing, according to the company's description of the site's output.

Sustainability and Digital Design Features

The company characterized the Daejeon facility as state-of-the-art and designed with environmental performance in mind. Its stated design goals include eliminating on-site fossil-fuel use and improving energy and water efficiency.

On the operational side, the company said integrated digital systems at the center support automated data capture and end-to-end batch traceability.

Corporate Context

The announcement was published by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. The company notes that in the United States and Canada, its subsidiaries operate under the umbrella brand EMD, while MilliporeSigma is identified as the company's U.S. and Canada Life Science business.

The Daejeon announcement was issued from Burlington, Massachusetts, where MilliporeSigma is based.

The company positioned the new center as a response to the needs of biopharmaceutical manufacturers in the region, emphasizing proximity of supply, regional production capacity, and consistency of quality as customers progress from development work to commercial-scale production of biologic medicines.

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