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Released October 05, 2022 | GALWAY, IRELAND
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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Ireland's established pharmaceutical and biotech sector continues its steady growth with new investments from companies including AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) (North Chicago, Illinois), Ipsen (Paris, France) and MeiraGTx (NYSE:MGTX) (New York, New York).
MeiraGTx officially opened Ireland's first commercial-scale gene therapy manufacturing site, a 150,000-square-foot complex in Shannon, Limerick. The facility contains three facilities: one built to be flexible and scalable for viral vector production and clinical and commercial supply; a facility to manufacture plasmid DNA used to kickstart most gene therapy products; and a quality control (QC) hub. The company has invested more than 60 million euro (US$57 million) in establishing the complex, which will create treatments for both genetic and non-hereditary disorders, ranging from inherited vision loss, salivary-gland conditions, and neurological diseases such as Parkinson's, to potentially diabetes, obesity, and some cancers.
It was opened by Ireland's head of government, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who said: "Great strides are being made in the area of gene therapy and I've no doubt that these new facilities will allow MeiraGTx to remain at the forefront of that development. Today's unveiling is testament to the company's continued commitment to Shannon and the Midwest and speaks to the considerable skills and ability of the Irish workforce."
Alastair Leighton, senior vice president of manufacturing and supply chain at MeiraGTx, added: "The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a strain on the global gene therapy industry to manufacture critical components, as well as exposed the shortcomings in the supply chain. While vaccines are not gene therapies, they share many of the same manufacturing processes and resources. The Shannon facility has been designed to address these challenges in order to provide access to transformative potential medicines to patients as well as be ready for significant future expansion."
In Cork, AbbVie is planning a 60 million-euro (US$57 million) expansion at its manufacturing site in Carrigtwohill. It will add a new state-of-the-art facility to support AbbVie's aesthetics business, while adding another 70 jobs spread across sterile manufacturing, quality control and engineering. The site, which employs 150 people, is a bulk tablet facility manufacturing solid and capsule formulations for oncology and virology patients. AbbVie will also introduce new technology and upgrades to improve the carbon footprint of the wider Cork site. Construction will commence in 2023 with manufacturing operations scheduled to begin in 2025. The company has invested 177 million euro (US$170 million) in the Cork operation since setting up there 20 years ago. AbbVie is one of Ireland's leading pharma companies, operating across eight locations and employing more than 2,600 people.
Ipsen, a mid-sized biopharma company focused on medicines in oncology, rare disease and neuroscience, has invested 52 million euro (US$50 million) in an upgraded manufacturing site in Blanchardstown, Dublin. The new site has already enabled the company's R&D and manufacturing teams to scale their API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) production by 10% this year. Another 15 million euro will be invested at the site between 2023 and 2026. Ipsen chief executive officer, David Loew, said: "The Irish market plays an important role as part of Ipsen's international network and Ipsen is committed to continued investment and innovation in Ireland to support improved care for patients across the therapeutic areas we serve -- oncology, rare disease, and neuroscience. This new investment in Dublin is a milestone in our ongoing journey of innovation and our growing footprint in Ireland."
Last month, Industrial Info reported that MSD Ireland (Dublin, Ireland), part of Merck & Co. (NYSE:MRK) (Rathway, New Jersey), had confirmed plans to begin construction on a state-of-the-art facility for the production of next-generation oncology biologics at its site in County Carlow, Ireland. The proposed project will begin manufacturing in 2025. For additional information, see September 14, 2022, article--MSD Ireland To Build New Biologics Plant in Carlow.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
MeiraGTx officially opened Ireland's first commercial-scale gene therapy manufacturing site, a 150,000-square-foot complex in Shannon, Limerick. The facility contains three facilities: one built to be flexible and scalable for viral vector production and clinical and commercial supply; a facility to manufacture plasmid DNA used to kickstart most gene therapy products; and a quality control (QC) hub. The company has invested more than 60 million euro (US$57 million) in establishing the complex, which will create treatments for both genetic and non-hereditary disorders, ranging from inherited vision loss, salivary-gland conditions, and neurological diseases such as Parkinson's, to potentially diabetes, obesity, and some cancers.
It was opened by Ireland's head of government, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who said: "Great strides are being made in the area of gene therapy and I've no doubt that these new facilities will allow MeiraGTx to remain at the forefront of that development. Today's unveiling is testament to the company's continued commitment to Shannon and the Midwest and speaks to the considerable skills and ability of the Irish workforce."
Alastair Leighton, senior vice president of manufacturing and supply chain at MeiraGTx, added: "The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a strain on the global gene therapy industry to manufacture critical components, as well as exposed the shortcomings in the supply chain. While vaccines are not gene therapies, they share many of the same manufacturing processes and resources. The Shannon facility has been designed to address these challenges in order to provide access to transformative potential medicines to patients as well as be ready for significant future expansion."
In Cork, AbbVie is planning a 60 million-euro (US$57 million) expansion at its manufacturing site in Carrigtwohill. It will add a new state-of-the-art facility to support AbbVie's aesthetics business, while adding another 70 jobs spread across sterile manufacturing, quality control and engineering. The site, which employs 150 people, is a bulk tablet facility manufacturing solid and capsule formulations for oncology and virology patients. AbbVie will also introduce new technology and upgrades to improve the carbon footprint of the wider Cork site. Construction will commence in 2023 with manufacturing operations scheduled to begin in 2025. The company has invested 177 million euro (US$170 million) in the Cork operation since setting up there 20 years ago. AbbVie is one of Ireland's leading pharma companies, operating across eight locations and employing more than 2,600 people.
Ipsen, a mid-sized biopharma company focused on medicines in oncology, rare disease and neuroscience, has invested 52 million euro (US$50 million) in an upgraded manufacturing site in Blanchardstown, Dublin. The new site has already enabled the company's R&D and manufacturing teams to scale their API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) production by 10% this year. Another 15 million euro will be invested at the site between 2023 and 2026. Ipsen chief executive officer, David Loew, said: "The Irish market plays an important role as part of Ipsen's international network and Ipsen is committed to continued investment and innovation in Ireland to support improved care for patients across the therapeutic areas we serve -- oncology, rare disease, and neuroscience. This new investment in Dublin is a milestone in our ongoing journey of innovation and our growing footprint in Ireland."
Last month, Industrial Info reported that MSD Ireland (Dublin, Ireland), part of Merck & Co. (NYSE:MRK) (Rathway, New Jersey), had confirmed plans to begin construction on a state-of-the-art facility for the production of next-generation oncology biologics at its site in County Carlow, Ireland. The proposed project will begin manufacturing in 2025. For additional information, see September 14, 2022, article--MSD Ireland To Build New Biologics Plant in Carlow.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
