MilliporeSigma Invests $25 Million to Expand Cell Culture Media Production.

July 17, 2023: MilliporeSigma, the life science arm of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has announced a significant expansion plan for its facility in Lenexa, Kansas. The company is investing $25 million to enhance its dry powder cell culture media manufacturing capabilities, crucial in producing life-saving therapies, vaccines, gene therapies, and monoclonal antibodies.

The Expansion Project:
The expansion project aims to add 98,000 square feet of new manufacturing and lab space at the Lenexa plant. This substantial increase in capacity will enable MilliporeSigma to meet the growing demand for cell culture media, ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality media necessary to produce treatments.

Center of Excellence in North America:
With this expansion, the Lenexa site will become MilliporeSigma’s largest dry powder cell culture media facility in North America. The company sees this site as a crucial center of excellence that will cater to the needs of its customers worldwide.

Creating New Jobs:
The expansion project is also set to positively impact the local community by generating 60 new jobs in the Kansas City area. These opportunities will contribute to the region’s economic growth and prosperity.

Strategic Growth Plans:
The investment in the Lenexa facility aligns with MilliporeSigma’s strategic growth plans. As a part of Merck KGaA, the company has set ambitious targets to increase sales from 19.7 billion euros in 2021 to 25 billion euros by 2025.

Dry Powder Cell Culture Media:
Cell culture media is an essential raw material in the biomanufacturing process. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the conditions for cells to grow and produce the desired therapeutic proteins. With the growing demand for novel therapies and vaccines, the need for high-quality cell culture media has become even more critical.

Meeting Customer Needs:
Darren Verlenden, MilliporeSigma’s Head of Process Solutions, emphasized that the expansion reflects the company’s commitment to meeting the dynamic needs of its customers worldwide. The new production line represents the company’s vision for the Lenexa site, offering greater flexibility and faster cell culture media manufacturing.

Global Reach:
In addition to the Lenexa facility, MilliporeSigma operates two other global sites in Nantong, China, and Irvine, Scotland, to produce dry powder cell culture media. These locations allow the company to serve customers across different regions efficiently.

Ensuring Robust Supply:
The strategic investments to expand capacity at various sites, including Lenexa and Nantong, aim to ensure a robust supply chain that meets current and future demand for cell culture media. This investment is part of Merck KGaA’s larger-scale growth push, which focuses on strengthening MilliporeSigma’s single-use capabilities.

Conclusion:
MilliporeSigma’s $25 million investment in expanding its Lenexa facility underscores its commitment to meet the rising demand for cell culture media used in life-saving therapies and manufacturing processes. The new capacity and job opportunities will not only benefit the company but also contribute to the economic growth of the Kansas City area. With its strategic growth plans, MilliporeSigma continues to position itself as a critical player in the life science industry, ensuring a consistent supply of essential materials for advancing medical treatments and discoveries.