Pharma giant BioMarin has announced a €60m investment in the expansion of its site in Shanbally in Cork.
The investment will see the addition of a new four-storey lab facility that will enable the company to increase production capacity for approved medicines and create room for future growth.
Employing more than 500 people, BioMarin said the expansion will further expand its footprint in Ireland, where the pharmaceutical giant operates a manufacturing site in Cork and a commercial office in Dublin.
“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.”
The company’s facility in Shanbally is its only manufacturing site outside of the United States. The site has end-to-end manufacturing capabilities, producing medicines from bulk drug substance to drug product to final packaging.
This is the second major significant expansion of the site, with BioMarin opening an aseptic production facility last year, a four-year build that allowed for increased production of commercial and clinical products.
Michael Lohan, chief executive of IDA Ireland said, “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.”
Conor Delaney, site lead and vice president of Shanbally Manufacturing Operations, BioMarin Pharmaceutical said, “Expanding our laboratories allows us to deliver our medicines more efficiently and at greater scale for people living with genetic conditions.
“This latest investment reinforces our commitment to advancing treatment options and supporting patients across the world.”