Merck, a leading science and technology company, will invest EUR35 million in a new production line for the aseptic filling of biotech medicines under isolator at its manufacturing site of Bari, Italy. The announcement was made as part of an event celebrating the 25th anniversary of the site and its leading role on the science and technology scene in the South Italian region of Apulia.

The new production line is expected to be fully operational in 2022. It will be equipped with an isolator designed with the latest technologies available and with a high level of automation. The isolator technology represents best practice in aseptic filling which is a prerequisite to ensure the safety of injectable medicines. The new production line is intended to be used for the aseptic filling of Merck's biotech medicines in the areas of multiple sclerosis, fertility and endocrinology with a capacity of 14 million units per year.

The Bari site is part of a network of 15 manufacturing sites dedicated to the production of Merck's biotech and pharmaceutical medicines serving 60 million patients across the globe each and every day.