(Taiwan) Merck and DCB announce cooperation to create new biotech services and training center :: BiotechEast - Taiwan and China biotechnology, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, ^¤å½s×, ^¤å×§ï ::

(BiotechEast staff)

21 January, 2007
The local office of pharmaceutical company Merck together with Taiwan's Development Center for Biotechnology (DCB) jointly announced on Wednesday a cooperation agreement to establish a biotechnology-focused services and training center in Taipei.

To be called the "Asia Technology Training Center" (ATTC), the facility will provide technical support, education and services, maximizing Merck's strength and leveraging the capabilities of the DCB.

"The combination of Merck's ATTC and DCB's CGMP biopharmaceutical manufacturing plant and other services catering to the island's life sciences industries, will formulate a powerful consulting center" said Mr. William Chen, vice president/head of Merck's Performance Life Science Division (PLS) in Taiwan.

The newly-established facility will be located on the DCB campus in Xizhi City, Taipei County, northern Taiwan.

Commenting on the announcement, Dr. Shu-Ming Wu, chairman of the DCB, said the fact that Merck chose Taiwan over competing Asian countries reconfirmed the regional competitiveness of Taiwan's biotech industry.

"The passing of "Statute for the Development of Biotechnology New Drug Industry" last year, in part through our efforts, had greatly improved Taiwan's overall biotech industrial environment. In addition, Merck can share with DCB its outstanding biotech and pharmaceutical R&D capabilities and the resources from our well- established biopharmaceutical CGMP pilot plant," said Wu.

This collaboration is a true win-win situation for both parties, according to Wu. On one hand, DCB can offer Merck a "proactive" training center; on the other, Merck can offer DCB and Taiwan global visibility and the regional network for biotech business, he added.

According to the DCB, this partnership with Merck should have a positive influence on the research capability and international reputation of the DCB.

"Through the network to be created by the ATTC facility, the DCB will not only establishes itself as the leader of bioprocessing in Asia, but will also expand its clientele for CGMP pilot plant and other services," said Dr. Ming-Chi Wu, president of the DCB.

Under the terms of the agreement, the DCB will provide the space, facilities, consultant and supplies for new center. The DCB will also provide a bio-processing team to support this effort on site.

With the DCB Industrial Promotion Division's capabilities in information service, technology transfer, international collaboration, government liaison and startup incubation, Merck should be in a favorable position to proactively recruit trainees for the ATTC and eventually increase the market share of Merck products in the region, according to Wu.

Wu added that through this collaboration effort, Merck will be able to leverage the DCB's expertise in the commercialization of R&D results to help build up Merck's biopharmaceutical pipeline through ATTC clienteles. In return, Merck will be able to share with the DCB its cooperation model with customers, and partner with the DCB in its global R&D efforts. The source of potential value-added for Merck is not limited to Taiwan, but also from the region and beyond through Merck's worldwide technology sourcing networks, summarized Wu.

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