The European Commission authorised, on 7 July, the proposed acquisition of Millipore, a US-based life science group of companies, by the German pharmaceutical and chemical company Merck. Although the parties are both active in the life science business, they focus on different markets. Millipore supplies inputs for the research, development and production of biological drugs created through biological processes, whereas Merck’s inputs mainly serve in the research, development and production of products created through chemical processes. Therefore, the transaction is largely complementary, says the Commission, which also notes the presence of strong alternative competitors.