PPD to support Merck & Co's vaccine development
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
The CRO, PPD, is to support Merck & Co's vaccine portfolio with assay development and immunogenicity testing services over the next five years. PPD has bought Merck's 130,000sq ft vaccine testing laboratory and related equipment in Wayne, Pennsylvania, for an undisclosed sum and has hired almost 80 Merck professionals to run the facility. PPD plans to develop new technologies and assays to expand its immunochemistry and oncology vaccine testing services and biologics lab services for other clients. It will also provide traditional central laboratory and sample storage services to Merck for its clinical development activities for five years. The transaction closed at the end of last month.