Merck to invest $70m for R&D facility expansion in Massachusetts

The building construction is scheduled to be completed in 2021 and is designed to offer office space, wet labs and a cafeteria.

Merck, one of the leaders in the pharmaceutical industry recently announced that it will be investing $70 million for the expansion of its R&D facility in Massachusetts. The new building will reportedly cover an area of 145,000 square feet and offer collaborative working and laboratory space for the 400 new and current R&D employees. The research and development activities will be focused on immunology, immuno-oncology and oncology.

Luciano Rossetti, Head of Global R&D at Biopharma business, Merck, has been quoted to say that the passionate and talented R&D teams in Billerica, Massachusetts are intensely engaged in advancing various pipeline compounds. He added that Merck continues to strengthen its innovation footprint in Darmstadt, Germany where its global R&D headquarters are located besides expanding in the U.S., aiming to deliver transformational value to patients across the globe.

Reliable sources report that with the latest development, Merck’s investment in infrastructure will cross $150 million in biopharmaceutical R&D advancement in Massachusetts. Such advancements have led to the creation of more than 150 new jobs ever since the Billerica R&D Hub was founded in 2011. The town of Billerica worked collaboratively with company officials and played a key role in the fruition of the latest building expansion project by underscoring the advantages of state-of-the-art R&D facility expansion.

Travis McCready, CEO and President of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center reportedly said that by continual investment in the state of Massachusetts Merck has become a testament to the state's global leadership in life sciences. He added that in collaboration with the town of Billerica, the company has not only succeeded in retaining top talent in the area but also significantly contributed towards improving the lives of people with serious medical needs.

The building construction is scheduled to be completed in 2021 and is designed to offer office space, wet labs and a cafeteria. The building will have LEED® and WELL certifications and conform to environmental and employee wellness standards.