Merck KGaA has decided to close down Bangalore GeNei, a company it had acquired in 2009 to bolster capabilities in design and production of biological research products.
ET Bureau
BY: Vikas Dandekar MUMBAI: German pharmaceutical and life sciences company Merck KGaA has decided to close down Bangalore GeNei, a company it had acquired in 2009 to bolster capabilities in design, development and production of biological research products, according to people aware of the development.
A spokesperson for Merck India confirmed it saying the decision was taken at the beginning of the year and production at the site was stopped on July 31. “Decommissioning activities are going on,” the spokesperson said.
The Indian arm of $12.5-billion Merck KGaA said selling the facility has been considered as an option during the decision process and opportunities are being evaluated. As part of the strategy for Merck Millipore, its global arm that deals with reagents, chemicals and labware, the company said it has been decided to stop supply of GeNei products and close the Merck Bangalore Site 02 – GeNei facility.
“Merck Millipore will systematically stop the sale of teaching kits, tech ware and molecular biology reagents and custom service of GeNei,” the spokesperson said.
Bangalore GeNei employed 39 full-time employees and 12 contract personnel. Merck said its management has been in detailed dialogue with the impacted employees, supporting their transition and evaluating alternate opportunities where possible.
Merck Millipore is expected to continue to focus on its core businesses like genomics, proteomics, cell culture, cell analysis, western blotting, disease research tools, analytical sample preparation and bio chemicals.
In an interview with ET earlier this month, Merck’s global CEO Belen Garijo had said India is one of its key growth markets under a global expansion drive.
ET Bureau
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