Merck has announced the acquisition of AmpTec, a leading Hamburg, Germany-based, mRNA contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO). The deal strengthens Merck’s capabilities to develop and manufacture mRNA for its customers for use in vaccines, treatments and diagnostics applicable in COVID-19 and many other diseases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Stefan Oschmann, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO, Merck said, “By combining AmpTec’s PCR-based mRNA technology with Merck’s extensive expertise in lipids manufacturing, we are able to provide a truly differentiated and integrated offering across the mRNA value chain, which will significantly decrease supply chain complexity and enhance speed-to-market.”

Guido Krupp and Peter Scheinert, Managing Directors and Founders, AmpTec said, “AmpTec’s more than 40 employees are thrilled to join Merck and are confident that our PCR-based technology and combined expertise will allow us to offer customers innovative technologies, products and services to help advance life-enhancing therapeutics.”

In addition to specialising in mRNA technology, AmpTec has a diagnostics business that focuses on producing customised long RNAs and DNAs for in vitro diagnostics. It will complement Merck’s diagnostics business, which specialises in providing critical raw materials, components and services for in vitro diagnostics manufacturers.

Merck is continuing to invest in mRNA as a modality and will scale up this technology both at AmpTec’s existing site in Hamburg and at Merck’s global headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany.