AbbVie expands Sligo plant
pharmafile | June 5, 2014 | News story | Manufacturing and Production, Sales and Marketing | AbbVie, Ireland, Sligo, manufacturing
AbbVie has officially opened its expanded manufacturing plant in Sligo, Ireland.
The US company has put €85 million into the facility since announcing the augmentation of the site – used to produce pipeline products in liver disease, oncology and women’s health – two years ago.
While adding to its capacity to make existing products in its portfolio, AbbVie says the expansion also sets up space to work on potential therapies such as its investigational, interferon-free treatment for chronic genotype 1 (GT1) hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
AbbVie says it has created 175 more skilled jobs at the site with its investment – which was supported by the Irish government through IDA Ireland – and the importance of the venture was reflected in prime minister Enda Kenny’s presence at the opening ceremony.
“This investment represents our ongoing commitment to Sligo and Ireland as an important part of AbbVie’s biopharmaceutical manufacturing strategy,” says Azita Saleki-Gerhardt, AbbVie’s senior vice president, operations.
In addition to the extended Manorhamilton site, AbbVie has Irish facilities in Dublin and Cork, plus a second plant in Sligo at Ballytivnan, and the company employs around 400 staff overall in the country.
AbbVie has 12 sites worldwide, ranging across the US, Europe and Puerto Rico.
Ireland is a popular choice for pharma manufacturers, and Kenny referenced the country’s status as a “leading location for investment for the life sciences sector”.
In March, Regeneron announced it was to open its first overseas production facility in Limerick after addressing the initial objections of a national heritage group.
The New York-based firm has earmarked €220 million to refurbish a former Dell computer plant on the outskirts of the city, with an expected 300 jobs to be created by 2016.
Others have had less happy experiences: last month GlaxoSmithKline was told by the FDA that the US importation of products from the firm’s facility in Cork ‘could be blocked’ until manufacturing problems have been addressed at the site.
Adam Hill
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