EMD Serono plans $12 million expansion in Billerica

BILLERICA — EMD Serono, a biopharmaceutical firm which is a division of the Germany-based Merck KGaA, on Monday announced a $12 million expansion of its research and development facility on its existing Billerica site.

The new 30,000-square foot addition at 45 Middlesex Turnpike will provide room for 120 new and current employees whose focus will be on accelerating innovation in research and development with a focus on oncology, immuno-oncology and immunology.

EMD Serono opened its $65 million state-of-the-art research center in Billerica, attracting nearly 100 new jobs to the area in 2011. Less than five years later, it is planning a multi-million dollar expansion.

“This investment is a reflection of our strengthening (our) footprint in the Boston area and in the U.S. as a leader in biopharma,” Luciano Rossetti, head of global R&D for Merck KGaA, Germany, said in a statement.

Rossetti added that the purpose of the expansion is to advance innovation and knowledge sharing across EMD Serono’s research and development teams with “the goal of accelerating the discovery and development of new therapies for patients in need,” he said.

The two-story expansion will be an extension onto the existing Sagamore Building and will feature open-space work areas, a central auditorium and numerous meeting spaces.

The company will also seek LEED certification, signifying a green building that is environmentally friendly, to compliment the Sagamore Building’s platinum LEED status, as well as WELL Institute certification to promote and improve human help and well-being.

Construction on the $12 million expansion is scheduled to begin this month with a target completion date of June 2017, according to the company.

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