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GETTING CLOSER: Merck aims to bring its portfolio of drugs and vaccines to more Asian customers by managing its regional operations in Singapore. -- PHOTO: BLOOMBERG NEWS
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DRUG giant Merck & Co has opened its regional headquarters in Singapore in a move to bring its innovative portfolio of drugs and vaccines to more Asian customers.
Merck already has major operations in the Republic, employing more than 500 staff in manufacturing and marketing roles, but is upgrading its presence. Globally, Merck is moving to strengthen its focus on emerging markets.
The regional headquarters in Singapore, which will be operated by Merck subsidiary Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), is located in Parkview Square at Bugis.
The office will house 23 staff comprising of the firm's 'senior leadership' in this part of the world, said MSD Technology Singapore president Ramesh Subrahmanian yesterday.
The team will include professionals from fields as diverse as marketing and medical science, ensuring a 'strong, direct presence' to understand the needs of patients and customers, he said.
Merck recently completed a $152 million investment at its Tuas Biomedical Park facility to support new products.
'Our new Asia-Pacific headquarters will help Merck achieve our overall goal of market leadership,' Mr Subrahmanian said. 'We'll strengthen our engagement with the scientific community and work closely with public health stakeholders in Asia.'
He declined to disclose Merck's cost of setting up the regional headquarters, but said total investments in Singapore are more than $1 billion. Last year, all of Merck's regional activities were managed out of New Jersey in the United States.
Aside from the Asia-Pacific being managed from Singapore, the firm's 'decentralisation' will also see its European activities handled from Munich in Germany and for Latin America, from Sao Paolo in Brazil.
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