EMD Serono Invests $75 Million to Expand Biopharmaceutical Research Campus in Massachusetts

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Reported by Annette Kreuger, Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--EMD Serono Incorporated (Rockland, Massachusetts), an affiliate of Merck KGaA (ETR:MRK) (Darmstadt, Germany), recently held a topping-off ceremony for the company's new 140,000-square-foot research building in Billerica, Massachusetts. In planning since 2008, the $75 million investment will serve as the company's domestic center of excellence, focused on discovering innovative treatments for unmet medical needs, according to Industrial Info's Pharmaceutical-Biotech Tracker - Online Database.

The Billerica site is one of EMD Serono's three global research centers, with the other two located in Germany and Switzerland. With a capacity of up to 200 scientists, the building will offer the opportunity for focused research into cancer biology, cancer immunotherapy, oncogene signaling, medicinal chemistry, molecular modeling, protein engineering, therapeutic antibodies, and manufacturing cell lines across the core therapeutic areas of neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and fertility.

With the placement of the building, EMD Serono is following a trend in the life-science industry by embracing the concept of a collaborative campus. The scientists will be working closely with the existing Technical Operations division, which specializes in process development and protein production for early clinical trials. The expansion is expected to result in 200 to 300 jobs, with 100 focused on research.

The company is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environment Design certification for the new building, which will house 25,000 square feet of chemistry and screening labs; 25,000 square feet of biology and cell culture labs; 22,000 square feet of general lab support space; 20,000 square feet of office and conference rooms; and 23,000 square feet of mechanical space. In addition, 25,000 square feet will be the central node space, which will consist of the reception area, cafeteria/auditorium, fitness center, offices and conference rooms.

As reported in Industrial Info's Pharmaceutical-Biotech Tracker - Online Database, the construction project team includes:

• Jones Lang LaSalle (Boston, Massachusetts), a global real estate services and construction management corporation
• Ellenzweig (Cambridge, Massachusetts), the architect
• Bard, Rao + Athanas LLC Consulting Engineers (Boston, Massachusetts), the mechanical engineer
• The BSC Group (Boston, Massachusetts), the civil engineers
• GEI (Woburn, Massachusetts), the geotechnical engineer

The project is set to be completed in the late summer of 2011.

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