Merck invests EUR200m in Carlow facility

27-11-2007

by Stephen Errity

Multinational healthcare giant Merck announced Tuesday that it is to invest EUR200 million in a new facility in Carlow, creating over 150 jobs in the process.

Merck, which is the seventh-largest pharmaceuticals firm in the world, has acquired the 65-acre IDA Technology and Business Park in Carlow Town. The investment is being made with the support of IDA Ireland.

The new Carlow facility, which will be the first stand-alone human vaccine project in Ireland, will involve a formulation and sterile-filling operation and an R&D team to support a number of recently launched vaccines as well as a range of new products in the future. Merck said it also intends to collaborate with Irish academic institutions in the area of biologics production. Biologic products are derived from biological sources like human plasma or cell culture, rather than created from chemical sources.

The move will lead to the creation of 170 new jobs for the area by 2011. By that time Merck will employ a highly-skilled and technically-sophisticated workforce across all areas of management, quality control, production, engineering, R&D and administration.

Making the announcement, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheal Martin said: "This is an excellent day for Carlow and the whole southeast region, as it will provide extensive high quality employment opportunities [and] a significant cumulative boost for the region's economy."

The minister added that the global competition for the investment had been "intense" and the decision to locate it in Ireland followed an international site selection study by Merck.

"The site for this investment, which is a critical part of Merck's strategy for the future, required a location where we are confident the necessary skilled people, support infrastructure and track record in implementing projects of this scale exists. That is why we chose Ireland," explained Dr. John T. McCubbins, Merck's vice president of global vaccine manufacturing.

Last year, Merck invested in a new formulation, R&D and manufacturing facility at its plant in South Tipperary, construction of which began last month. The Tipperary plant is one of two existing Merck operations in Ireland, the other being a corporate office in Leopardstown, Co. Dublin.