Merck aquired AmpTec to expand mRNA capabilities

For many years scientists have looked at DNA as a target for gene therapy or for therapeutics. In vitro transcribed mRNAs (synthetic mRNAs) have come into focus of interest as a potential drug for gene therapy due to the transient nature of mRNA. There is no risk of genomic integration with potential permanent genetic alteration of cells. Synthetic mRNAs can be engineered to transiently express almost any proteins by structurally resembling natural mRNAs. The potential of mRNA applications is huge and growing all the time. Key applications are mRNA-based vaccines, mRNA-based cancer immunotherapies and genome editing. mRNA-based cancer immunotherapies and infectious disease vaccines have already entered clinical development. This mRNA enthusiasm has produced a wave of emerging companies to further exploit this technology.

Huge market potential

“You could ultimately use mRNA to express any protein and perhaps treat almost any disease,“ said Stephen Hoge, President, Moderna Therapeutics (cen.acs.org/ business/start-ups/mRNA-disrupt-drugindustry/96/i35).

Especially now in the COVID-19 pandemic, the interest in mRNA-based ­vaccines has become huge due to the fact that mRNA-based vaccines can be produced much faster than traditional vaccines and only minor adaptions are needed to account for sequence variations. The production of an mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in such a short time was a f antastic success and a historic milestone for mRNA technology.
This year, Merck KGaA, a leading ­science and technology company, has acquired AmpTec GmbH, an internationally active CMO with comprehensive services for manufacturing of ­synthetic RNAs and mRNAs, with more than 15 years of experience. Lipids, which are part of the SAFC® portfolio of Merck’s Life Science business sector, are one of the key components in the formulation of mRNA therapeutics, including
COVID-19 vaccines. Merck has more than 20 years of experience in this field and supports 50 vaccine manufac­turers, including mRNA-based products, in the development and manufacture of
COVID-19-specific vaccines, therapies and services. Thus, the acquisition enables a high level of synergy due to AmpTec’s strong expertise in mRNA manufacturing and Merck’s strong expertise in lipid manufacturing for mRNA formulation. By combining AmpTec’s mRNA techno­logy with Merck’s extensive know-how in lipid production, a comprehensive ­offering can be provided, thus covering the entire mRNA value chain. This will significantly reduce the complexity of the supply chain and ­reduce the time to market.
This allows us to offer our customers innovative technologies which will help advance life-enhancing therapies.

Merck will continue to invest in mRNA as a therapeutic modality and advance the scaling of the technology both at the existing AmpTec site in Hamburg and at its Darmstadt headquarters.

This article was originally published in European Biotechnology Magazine Winter Edition 2021.