Biotech Company Expansion To Create 400 Jobs

Up to 400 new jobs are to be created in Co Meath with the expansion of global biotechnology manufacturer, Shire.

US firm Shire is to invest $400 million (US) in a new state of the art biologics manufacturing campus, which it expects will lead to the creation of approximately 400 permanent jobs on a 120 acre site at Piercetown, County Meath.

Construction of the new site will begin in mid-2016 with the site expected to be operational by mid-2019.

Shire's Chief Executive Officer, Flemming Ornskov, MD, MPH, said: "Increasing our biologics manufacturing capability is fundamental to achieving our ambition of becoming the world's leading Biotechnology Company focused on rare diseases and other speciality conditions. The expansion will enable us to meet increasing product demands, support our pipeline and, ultimately, help more patients.

"We are delighted to be expanding our operations in Ireland, where we have strong, existing relationships. The new campus in County Meath will provide necessary geographic diversification and will help us serve our growing international business."

Employing the latest bioprocessing techniques, the facility will employ flexible production strategies enabling it to supply both clinical and commercial scale products. The roles at Shire's new campus in County Meath will consist of highly skilled, full time jobs in the areas of R&D, operations, technical staff, engineering and construction.

Shire's Senior Vice President of Technical Operations, Tim Kelly, added: "The expansion supports our manufacturing strategy to develop and provide innovative specialty medicines for patients. Ireland is a strategically important location for Shire, providing both excellence in life science R&D and manufacturing. We already have a strong team on the ground in Ireland and believe that it is the right location for us to build a new state of the art facility which will complement our existing manufacturing operations in the US."

Mr. Richard Bruton TD, Irish Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, also said: "Today's announcement is a huge boost for the Irish economy and for County Meath. The scale of the global investment being made by Shire and the creation of 400 full-time positions in Ireland, as well as over 700 additional jobs during construction, will have a major impact, and further validates Ireland's position as a leading global location for biotechnology manufacturing and R&D. Biotechnology is a key sector which we have targeted as part of our jobs plans, and Shire's decision to build on its very capable team already in Ireland with a $400million investment is a very welcome step-up in its presence here."

(MH)