Inter-Lab

Inter-Lab (formerly known as InterPharm) is the R&D center of Merck Serono in Israel since the merger of Merck KGaA (Germany) and Serono (Switzerland) into Merck Serono in 2007.

Merck Serono’s R&D Center in Israel

Inter-Lab’s (ITL) Cell Science group, an integral part of Merck Serono’s global biotechnology research and development organization, carries out research and development projects, in collaboration with other groups in the company.  The group functions as a center of expertise for the development of high producer cells, which serve in the development and production of new drugs. ITL is also looking for academic and industrial partners for developing new novel drugs in Israel and globally.

Since the development of Rebif® and other drugs, Inter-Lab's scientists have gained decades of experience in process development and manufacturing technologies specific to biotechnology. Today, these state-of-the-art technologies are used in genetic engineering and the development of high-producing cells. In parallel, Inter-Lab is continuously developing new technologies and platforms for production of therapeutics.

High producer cell development is a multi-disciplinary field. Inter-Lab’s group of scientists includes scientists from all disciplines of biology and biochemistry, working together in the company's state-of-the-art facilities in Yavneh.

Merck Serono’s Ethical Drugs Distribution Center in Israel

The product distribution center of Merck Serono in Israel is located in the city of Yavne.

Merck Serono markets ethical drugs in Israel in the areas of neurodegenerative diseases, oncology, fertility and endocrinology. Among these drugs are: Rebif®, Gonal-F®, Luveris®, Ovitrelle®, Cetrotide®, Crinone® and Erbitux®.

A Member of the Community

Inter-Lab's activities go beyond its laboratories and reach into the community. The company is engaged in direct support of its community, as well as in the advancement and encouragement of life sciences and biotechnological education in Israel.

Merck KGaA, a global company with headquarters in Darmstadt (Germany), is the oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company in the world, with a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped by employees in about 60 countries. The worldwide activities of the Merck Group are divided into two business sectors: Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals.

Pharmaceuticals

Merck develops, manufactures and markets innovative prescription drugs as well as over-the-counter products.

In the area of prescription drugs, the acquisition of Serono, completed in January 2007, and the creation of the Merck Serono division, positioned Merck as a leader in the world of biological ethical drugs.

Over the counter brands developed by Merck are trusted world-wide. Merck’s Consumer Health Care division offers a range of products.

Merck devotes extensive efforts to increase access to medicines through far-reaching programs that not only donate Merck medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them. Merck also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service.

Chemicals

Merck offers a range of chemicals for various technology applications. Merck's products include high quality and innovative industrial and laboratory chemicals for the electronics, printing, coatings, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

Merck Serono is Merck’s Biotechnology Division, with global headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

The focus of Merck Serono's research activity is oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, fertility, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

In a knowledge-rich environment, such as the biopharmaceutical industry, it is important to be part of a larger body of research. In Merck Serono, Inter-Lab finds a worldwide community of scientists, all of whom contribute their professional know-how to the development of new medicines for better treatment of patients today and in the years to come.

Proteins are a class of therapeutic medications. Some of them are bioactive molecules that naturally exist in our body, such as hormones, cytokines and growth factors. Others are bioactive antagonists of hormones and cytokines, used in the treatment of inflammatory and immune reactions typical to autoimmune diseases. Yet another group of therapeutic proteins, antibodies, or antibody-like molecules, are used for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune diseases and more.

Today’s technology enables the production of therapeutic proteins in host cells, such as mammalian cells, bacteria, and yeast. Through genetic engineering, the gene for the product of a specific therapeutic protein is inserted into the genome of the host cell. The functionally active gene is then transcribed into mRNA, which is then translated and processed into the active protein. The protein product is secreted from the producer cells, collected and purified, to serve as the active ingredient in pharmaceuticals.

The Research groups of Merck Serono are engaged in the discovery and engineering of new therapeutic molecules. These molecules are produced in high producing cell clones, developed at Inter Lab and other cell science groups of Merck Serono.