Rare disease specialist Biomarin Pharmaceuticals will invest €60 million to expand its Cork plant – the company’s only manufacturing facility outside the United States.
The biotechnology group said will build a four-storey laboratory at the Shanbally site to allow for increased production of its current medicines and capacity for future products.
“Expanding our laboratories allows us to deliver our medicines more efficiently and at greater scale for people living with genetic conditions,” site lead, Conor Delaney, said. “This latest investment reinforces our commitment to advancing treatment options and supporting patients across the world.”
Biomarin established manufacturing operation in Cork in 2012. It has since opened a commercial office in Dublin to support operations across Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The company, founded in 1997, now employs more than 500 people in Ireland
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The company focuses on developing and commercialising therapies for rare genetic conditions, and currently has eight products on the market.
This is the second big expansion of the Cork site at which the company can manage the full manufacturing process from bulk drug substance to drug product to final packaging.
“This investment in our Cork facility reflects our ongoing commitment to enhancing our industry-leading global manufacturing capabilities and supporting the growth of our innovative medicines for our people living with rare conditions around the world,” said Evelyn Marchany Garcia, senior vice-president and chief quality officer at Biomarin.
“The Shanbally facility plays a crucial role in our global network, and this expansion emphasises our confidence in Ireland’s skilled workforce and the strategic importance of this site to Biomarin’s long-term success.”
IDA Ireland chief executive Michael Lohan said the company’s latest investment was “a welcome endorsement of the country’s position globally as a location of choice for biopharmaceuticals and a trailblazer in advancing healthcare solutions”.
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