Posted on 13 days ago by Laurentina Kennedy
BioMarin Pharmaceutical invests €60m in Cork expansion
Biotechnology company BioMarin Pharmaceutical is investing €60m in the expansion of its facility in Shanbally, Co Cork.
The company, which employs more than 500 people in Ireland, said the addition of a new, four-storey laboratory facility will enable it to increase production capacity for currently approved medicines and create room for future growth.
BioMarin develops and commercialises targeted therapies that address the root cause of genetic conditions. Its Irish operations include its manufacturing site in Shanbally, as well as a commercial office in Dublin.
Its facility in Shanbally is BioMarin's only manufacturing site outside of the US and has end-to-end manufacturing capabilities, producing medicines from bulk drug substance to drug product to final packaging. It first opened in 2012.
This marks the second major significant expansion of the site after it opened an aseptic production facility last year, a four-year build that enabled increased production of commercial and clinical products.
"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, Chief Quality Officer, BioMarin Pharmaceutical.
"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," it added.
Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland, said that as a global leader in the biopharmaceutical sector, BioMarin's ongoing investment in Ireland is a welcome endorsement of the country's position globally as a location of choice for biopharmaceuticals and a trailblazer in advancing healthcare solutions.
"By opening this new quality control and process development laboratory, BioMarin will create new opportunities for collaboration, talent development and growth, ensuring that the life sciences sector in Ireland continues to make an impact on patients’ lives worldwide," the IDA CEO added.