50 new jobs are to be created in Athlone by Aerie Pharmaceuticals, which has entered into a lease agreement with the IDA to establish a new manufacturing plant.
Aerie Pharmaceuticals will establish a manufacturing plant at the recently constructed 2,650 sq m IDA Advance Technology Building in Athlone, Co Westmeath.
The Athlone facility will house the new plant, which is expected to produce commercial supplies for Aerie’s current product candidates, RhopressaTM and Roclatan.
‘The pharmaceutical sector continues to be a key target sector for IDA Ireland as we seek to win more business for Ireland in 2017’
– MARTIN SHANAHAN
Aerie has commenced its design plan for the facility and expects to begin internal construction in early 2017. The company will initially create up to 50 new jobs in sterile manufacturing, quality, engineering and other support capabilities.
“As we prepare for commercialisation, it is increasingly important that we ensure greater independence regarding our finished product sourcing, while also meaningfully reducing our future product costs,” said Aerie CEO Vicente Anido Jr.
Breakthrough in glaucoma treatment
If approved, these products are expected to offer the first new mechanisms of action for the treatment of patients with glaucoma in around 20 years.
“The midlands is a fantastic place to invest, and Aerie’s choice to locate its manufacturing facility in IDA Ireland’s new building there is particularly welcome,” said Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor, TD.
Estimated project-wide construction and equipment costs are expected to total approximately €25m, excluding ongoing labour-related and lease expenses.
Commercial product supply for RhopressaTM, if approved, is expected to be available by 2020.
“The decision to proactively build properties to attract foreign investors into regional locations has been further vindicated with Aerie’s selection of the IDA-built facility in Athlone,” IDA CEO Martin Shanahan said.
“The pharmaceutical sector continues to be a key target sector for IDA Ireland as we seek to win more business for Ireland in 2017.”
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