Pfizer sells Irish manufacturing facility to Amgen
pharmafile | March 14, 2011 | News story | Manufacturing and Production | Amgen, Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, Pfizer, pharma manufacturing, pharma manufacturing in Ireland
Amgen has come to the rescue of 280 workers whose jobs were threatened by the closure of a manufacturing facility in Ireland after coming forward with an offer to buy the plant.
The US biotechnology major has offered an undisclosed amount to buy Pfizer’s facility at Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, throwing a lifeline to around 240 of the 280 workers employed there. The remaining 40 staff members also look set to be retained by Pfizer under the terms of the agreement.
Amgen said it will take over the manufacturing of some of Pfizer’s products made at Dun Laoghaire for an interim period, during which Pfizer will also lease part of the plant.
Amgen eventually plans to use the 37,000 sq.m. site to formulate and fill its biologic products and says it plans to expand the site with additional manufacturing capabilities. At present the plant boasts freeze drying and liquid vial filling operations.
“As we expand internationally, the Dublin site will help us deliver a growing supply of Amgen medicines for patients worldwide,” said Madhu Balachandran, senior vice president, Amgen Manufacturing.
The purchase represents a major expansion for Amgen in Ireland, which currently employs just 25 people at offices in Dublin.
“We are impressed with the technical expertise and commitment to excellence demonstrated by the employees who work at the Dun Laoghaire site and look forward to welcoming them to Amgen’s global manufacturing team,” added Balachandran.
The Dun Laoghaire plant won the 2010 Facility of the Year Award for Facility Integration for an extension which added additional production space, warehousing and utilities without any impact on manufacturing output at the site.
The Dun Laoghaire transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of this year, said Amgen. Meanwhile Pfizer says it is still trying to find buyers for two other Irish facilities, at Loughbeg and Shanbally in Cork.
Phil Taylor
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