Merck KGaA. (12/13/22). "Press Release: Merck Signs MoU with Synplogen to Accelerate Development and Manufacturing of Viral Vector-based Gene Therapy Applications". Tokyo.

	Organisation	Merck Millipore viral vector + gene therapy manufacturing facility in Carlsbad, CA
	Group	Merck (DE) (Group)
	Organisation 2	Synplogen Co., Ltd.
	Product	gene therapy technology
	Product 2	VirusExpress® 293 AAV Production Platform
	Index term	Merck (DE)–Synplogen: viral vectors, 202212– collab MoU integration of offerings for viral vector dev + production for gene therapies in Japan
	Person	Hatano, Isao (Merck (DE) 202212 Head of Process Solutions at Merck Life Science business sector in Japan)
	Person 2	Yamamoto, Kazuhiko (Synplogen 202212 CEO)

> Merck’s Millipore® CTDMO Services (Contract Testing, Development and Manufacturing Organization) to streamline viral vector development and production in Japan

> Collaboration includes VirusExpress® Platform to accelerate development and clinical research

> Merck to provide hands-on training to Synplogen scientists at M Lab™ Collaboration Center in Japan

Merck, a leading science and technology company, has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Synplogen, a startup spun out of Kobe University's Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation. Both companies aim to integrate their capabilities to provide streamlined development, manufacturing and testing for viral vector gene therapies for Japan.

“With nearly 30 years’ experience in cell and gene therapy, we look forward to collaborating with Synplogen to further the development and manufacturing of viral vectors in Japan,” said Isao Hatano, Head of Process Solutions at Merck’s Life Science business sector in Japan. “Our work together will focus on developing the targeted template and manufacturing for viral vectors in order to bring these life-changing therapies to more patients.”

The collaboration also includes licensing Merck’s VirusExpress® 293 Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Production Platform. It will enable Synplogen to increase the speed to clinical manufacturing, while reducing process development time and costs. The approach will leverage Merck’s Millipore® CTDMO Services facility in Carlsbad, California, USA, which opened in 2021 to support large-scale commercial and industrial manufacturing of viral and gene therapy products.

“Synplogen has been providing customers with the technologies and services including DNA synthesis, cell, process and test method development necessary for gene therapy products, a market that has grown dramatically in recent years. Our collaboration with Merck will enable us to provide a full range of services from Chemistry, Manufacturing and Control development to GMP manufacturing and potentially expand the business globally, by licensing our proprietary technologies to overseas companies,” said Kazuhiko Yamamoto, Representative Director and CEO of Synplogen Co., Ltd.

As part of the MoU, Merck will offer technical support, training and process development and optimization at its M Lab™ Collaboration Center in Tokyo. Merck operates M Lab™ Collaboration Centers in nine countries worldwide, where its scientists and engineers provide customers with opportunities for collaboration, technical guidance, and education in a fully simulated bioprocessing manufacturing lab environment.

For more information, contact Chie Umezawa
+81 3-5434-6493
Email

All Merck press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service.

About Synplogen

Synplogen Co., Ltd. is a synthetic biology startup company founded in 2017 and originated from Kobe University. Utilizing its proprietary DNA synthesis technologies "OGAB method" and "Combi-OGAB method", the company is capable of synthesizing ultra-long and complex DNA and constructing DNA libraries with various combinations. We also provide one-stop solutions for the design, development, and analysis of high-quality, cost-effective viral vectors for gene therapy at our Kobe R&D Center, as a biofoundry specializing in gene therapy. URL:https://www.synplogen.com/

About Merck

Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across life science, healthcare and electronics. More than 60,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From providing products and services that accelerate drug development and manufacturing as well as discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2021, Merck generated sales of € 19.7 billion in 66 countries.

Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck’s technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare, and EMD Electronics in electronics.

Record changed: 2023-03-24