BMS Investing $400 Million in Dublin Sterile Drug Expansion

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMS) (NYSE:BMY) (New York, New York) has opted to build its first European sterile drug product (SDP) facility in Dublin, Ireland.

The company is planning to invest US$400 million in the new facility, which will be located at its Cruiserath campus. It will lead to the addition of 350 new jobs, bringing the company's headcount at the campus to more than 1,000. The plant will support the manufacturing and supply of existing medicines as well as "serve as a launch excellence facility" for pipeline assets in the areas of oncology, immunology and hematology. Construction of the two-storey, 138,000-square-foot building is expected to start this month following planning approval, with commissioning expected in 2026. Works will also cover the refurbishment of an existing two-storey lab building.

Padraig Keane, vice president, Cruiserath Biologics, said: "This is significant news and a proud day at Cruiserath Biologics as this SDP facility strengthens not only our capabilities on campus, but allows us to be agile and responsive to patient needs across the globe. This investment will expand our capacity for aseptic drug products, reinforce stable production for global supply, and accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative biologic therapies alongside other pipeline medicines. This year we celebrate 60 years of BMS in Ireland, across our three sites in Ireland we continue to play a critical role in the global production, development, and supply network."

Michael Lohan, chief executive officer of Ireland's investment body, IDA (Industrial Development Agency), said: ''Bristol Myer Squibb's decision to invest $400 million at their Cruiserath campus along with 350 new jobs is most welcome news and underscores the strategic importance of Ireland in their global operations. It is proof of the company's future commitment to Ireland and a testament to Ireland's continued attractiveness as a location for biopharma investment.''

BMS constructed the existing multi-product cell culture (MPCC) biologics drug-substance manufacturing facility at Cruiserath in 2016-17. It was the first BMS biologics drug substance facility outside of the U.S., and costing over US$1 billion, it was one of the largest ever foreign direct life sciences investments in Ireland. The existing site comprises five buildings: the multi-product cell culture (MPCC) building, which manufactures the drug-substance, the central utilities building (CUB) for engineering, the Global Biologics Laboratory (GBL), which handles release testing, a Warehouse, Cryogenics & Logistics (WCL) building and the Laboratory, Office & Cafeteria (LOC) building.

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