Allergan Accelerates Expansion in Ireland With €65 Million Investment
Global life-science innovation leader, Allergan, which is headquartered in Ireland and operates four facilities here, has announced a €65 million capital investment programme for 2019 to facilitate the continued expansion of the company’s state-of-the art laboratories and manufacturing campuses at Westport in County Mayo and Clonshaugh in north Dublin. The Westport facility has created 63 new highly skilled jobs, bringing total employment in Ireland to more than 2,000 across the country. One in ten employees in Allergan’s global workforce is based in Ireland.
An EY DKM Economic Impact Assessment of Allergan’s operations in Ireland indicates that this 2019 capital investment programme will contribute €23 million to Ireland’s GDP this year and deliver €7 million in exchequer revenue. In 2018, Allergan generated a GDP impact of €308 million and supported 3,485 jobs in Ireland’s economy, generating exchequer revenue of €76 million.
Allergan’s Westport campus is the largest and most complex in Allergan’s global network. Encompassing a pharmaceuticals facility, two biologics plants and an ocular implant facility, it is responsible for the global supply of flagship Allergan product BOTOX and manufactures a range of eye care products.
Announcing the investment, Paul Coffey, Vice President & Plant General Manager, Allergan Westport, said: “This €65 million investment further cements Ireland’s strategic role in Allergan’s global network. Continued investment of this scale builds on the €50 million investment programme in 2018 and €42 million in 2017 which allows us to apply world-class technology to Allergan’s leading innovation and product development strategy. We are expanding capacity to meet global demand and we are advancing our R&D capabilities to meet the needs of the future for our business. We are proud that 40 years on we are still growing and offering valuable employment opportunities in key regions of Ireland and we thank the communities around us for their continued support.”
The investment in Westport focuses on four key areas; two new manufacturing suites in its biologics facility to provide the capability to introduce new product formats for one of Allergan’s flagship products and the launch of a new product currently in development, as well as the completion of a new state-of-the-art microbiology and cell-based laboratory. The completion of the new Biologics facility – which represents a total investment of more than €140 million – is in the final stages of qualification and regulatory approval before commencing commercial production.
At its ocular implant facility in Westport, Allergan is introducing automated manufacturing processes using high-end robotics. This new technology could be used to produce products that have the potential to revolutionise the treatment of common eye conditions such as glaucoma. The company is also upgrading its existing manufacturing capabilities and capacity for the introduction of new eye care products due to launch in the coming years.
Investment at the Clonshaugh facility in Dublin, which encompasses two manufacturing facilities and the plc head office, will focus on expanding specialised manufacturing capability for new product development and the launch of new solid dose products currently in development. This facility plays a pivotal role in the delivery of Allergan’s global “Open Science” strategy by providing the critical small-scale pilot and manufacturing capability for Allergan’s important oral solid dosage product pipeline. It currently manufacturers products for the treatment of conditions including depression, irritable bowel syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease and hypertension.
Welcoming the investment, Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland, said: “Allergan’s commitment to Ireland has been exemplary and we warmly welcome this continued growth and expansion in Westport and Dublin. This latest €65 million investment brings Allergan’s total investment in Ireland to in excess of €670 million, which is a considerable vote of confidence in Ireland as a place to do business and in the IDA’s regional development strategy. With a 40-year heritage in Ireland, Allergan’s broad geographical footprint in Ireland is a great example for other pharmaceutical firms considering locating here. We wish Allergan continued success as a visionary leader delivering innovative and breakthrough treatments to the world from their strategic operations in Ireland.”
