AstraZeneca has announced its first manufacturing investment in Ireland, creating highly skilled jobs for scientists and engineers.
Thanks to its role in the global Covid-19 vaccine roll-out, AstraZeneca has become a household name.
Now, following on from a 2020 acquisition, the biopharmaceutical multinational will create 100 jobs at a new facility in Dublin. These highly skilled jobs will include roles for scientists and engineers.
AstraZeneca will invest $360m in the advanced manufacturing facility to be built at the Alexion campus in Blanchardstown. It will be the company’s first ever manufacturing facility in Ireland, having primarily employed sales and marketing teams in Dublin up to now.
Last year, AstraZeneca acquired Alexion Pharmaceuticals in a $39bn deal – its biggest ever corporate acquisition.
AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said that this investment, with the support of the Irish Government through IDA Ireland, “will create highly skilled jobs, nurture the country’s dynamic life sciences sector and allow for the development of high value-added medicines”.
The new Dublin site will serve as a next-generation active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facility for small molecules. It will be focused on the late-stage development and early commercial supply of new medicines using state-of-the-art process technology and digital innovations.
Pam Cheng, executive vice-president of global operations and IT, explained: “The future manufacturing of APIs for our medicines includes compounds with highly complex synthesis, requiring next-generation technologies and capabilities that can respond quickly and nimbly to rapidly changing clinical and commercial needs. This significant investment will ensure the AstraZeneca supply network is fit for the future.”
The site will be capable of manufacturing new, targeted drug therapies such as antibody drug conjugates and oligonucleotides. It is also planned to involve more sustainable manufacturing processes.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin welcomed the announcement: “In choosing Ireland as the location for its new next-generation active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing facility, AstraZeneca joins the very strong and successful network of global life sciences companies we have in Ireland. I wish them every success with their operations here.”
Headquartered in Cambridge, AstraZeneca operates in more than 100 countries.
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