Waterford-based pharmaceutical company EirGen Pharma is expected to announce the creation of 30 jobs today, while the Wexford manufacturing plant of Danone Baby Nutrition is also expected to announce the creation of 45 new jobs, according to reports.
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, TD, is set to make the announcements at Danone’s plant in Rocklands, Wexford, this morning, before travelling to EirGen, which is based off the Old Kilmeadan Road in Waterford City.
Bruton will then attend a South East Forum in Waterford at 3pm.
Also this morning, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, TD, is chairing an Action Plan for Jobs Forum in Wexford.
EirGen in Waterford
In relation to EirGen, Tom Brennan and Patsy Carney co-founded the company in 2005. It currently employs 45 people at its plant in Waterford, which focuses on the development and supply of niche highly potent drugs typically used in cancer treatment.
Just in March the Saudi Arabian company Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries & Medical Appliances Corporation (Spimaco) acquired a 48pc stake in EirGen, to the value of €19m. And, last November, EirGen entered into a partnership agreement with South African pharmaceuticals company Equity Pharmaceuticals to develop and commercially supply five oncology products from its Waterford facility.
At the time, Enterprise Ireland said that the deal between EirGen and Equity Pharmaceuticals would be worth €3m per annum, based on an anticipated 20pc market share of the €15m market for this portfolio of oncology products.
Back in October 2009, EirGen announced that it was to invest €3.3m in an expansion programme, with Enterprise Ireland support.
Danone Baby Nutrition Wexford. Image credit: Malone O’Regan, which had been involved in the planning for the site and the design of an upgrade to the facility
Meanwhile Danone Baby Nutrition, a subsidiary of Danone Groupe, has a manufacturing plant in Wexford as well as in Macroom in Co Cork. Both facilities produce products such as Nutrilon and Almiron.
Main Jobs image via Shutterstock
