Merck Announces $680M Expansion in Durham and Wilson Counties

Merck’s Maurice R. Hilleman Center for Vaccine Manufacturing in Durham will benefit significantly from the arrival of a new product – and hundreds of millions of investment dollars that come with it – over the next few years.

The NC Department of Commerce and Merck announced July 25th that the company will build a 225,000 square-foot addition to its vaccine-manufacturing site in Treyburn Corporate Park. It will be used to produce active ingredient for Gardasil and Gardasil 9 recombinant human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. The facility will take three to four years to complete and bring online, at an investment of greater than $650 million. And it will eventually add more than 400 new jobs to Merck’s Durham workforce.

The company also will make a much smaller $30 million investment at its Wilson plant to add packaging lines and expand warehouse space. It will mean an increase of more than 30 positions there.

“Merck is delighted to bring additional investment and jobs to North Carolina.” Said Sanat Chattopadhyay, the company’s executive vice president and president of its manufacturing division. “Our Durham and Wilson plants are key strategic sites in the Merck global manufacturing network. And the strong support of the state is critical for the success of businesses such as ours.”

The two projects qualify Merck for a state Job Development Investment Grant of up to $5 million over the next 12 years if the company meets its job targets. Merck has committed to add a combined total of 425 new positions at Durham and Wilson during that time, with an average annual salary of about $73,382.

“The life sciences industry cluster in North Carolina enjoys a well-earned reputation as one of the nation’s leading centers for biotech innovation,” said Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland in making the announcement at the NC biotechnology Center. “Merck’s long experience in our state gave them the confidence to bring this important new operation to North Carolina.”

Article Source: NC Biotech Center