– Ease of use and high transport stability

– Scalable solution for biopharmaceutical applications

– Short installation times save costs

Darmstadt — Merck KGaA has announced the European launch of the Plug ‘n Flow™ technology for its ion exchange resins of the Fractogel® and Eshmuno™ product lines. This technology provides for easier, faster and safer use of biochromatography resins. Plug ‘n Flow™ will be presented for the first time in Europe at the 10th Biological Production Forum 2010, which is taking place in Frankfurt from June 21 to 23.

More flexibility due to short installation times and high scalability

Plug ‘n Flow™ columns are pre-packed chromatography columns that are filled with Fractogel® or Eshmuno™ biochromatography resins. Plug ‘n Flow™ columns are offered in four different diameters (1 to 20 cm) and six different lengths (5 to 30 cm). Use of these columns for purification in biopharmaceutical processes considerably reduces installation and change-over times, and results in cost savings. At the same time, the Plug ‘n Flow™ technology enables easier scalability for industrial downstream processing.

Plug ‘n Flow™ complements Merck’s portfolio for the biopharmaceutical process chain

Convenience is an aspect that is playing an increasingly important role also in the biopharmaceutical process chain. Strong binding capacity, outstanding process productivity and simple process technology go hand in hand in biomolecule purification.

James Easson, Marketing Manager for ion exchange resins at Merck, says: “Fractogel® and Eshmuno™ are two high-performance product lines for biochromatography that stand for reliability and efficiency. Our European biotech customers can now also bene-fit from the short installation times and ease of use of Plug ‘n Flow™ pre-packed columns.”

More information on Merck’s product and service solutions for biopharmaceutical applications is available at merck4pharma.com

Merck Chemicals is one of the world’s leading suppliers to the biopharmaceutical industry. From a single source it supplies both raw materials and process materials for all steps along the biopharmaceutical process chain. The product portfolio includes resins for purifying a wide variety of chemicals and enzymes for technical challenges in the preparation, purification and formulation processes. In addition, Merck offers its customers extensive support in all application and regulatory issues.

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Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with total revenues of € 7.7 billion in 2009, a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped by approximately 33,600 employees in 64 countries. Merck’s success is characterized by innovations from entrepreneurial employees. Merck’s operating activities come under the umbrella of Merck KGaA, in which the Merck family holds an approximately 70% interest and shareholders own the remaining approximately 30%. In 1917, the U.S. subsidiary Merck & Co. was expropriated and has been an independent company ever since.