EirGen €3m expansion yields 20 jobs

WATERFORD pharmaceutical firm EirGen is investing €3.3 million in an expansion that is expected to create 20 jobs.

The investment will see the company expand its research and development and manufacturing operations at the Waterford plant in a move that will bring total employment to 40 over the next two years.

EirGen said the financial injection will position it to service its growing number of clients in pharmaceutical companies worldwide. EirGen is a specialist pharmaceutical company focusing on the development of drugs used in cancer treatment.

Tánaiste and Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister Mary Coughlan said: “EirGen is a shining example of the innovative, high-technology life sciences companies that are developing in Ireland and that contribute so much, both at a regional level and to strengthening Ireland’s reputation as a centre of excellence for high-value innovative services.

“Their strong focus on providing dedicated research and development facilities, their export focus and the high-value technology jobs they provide all combine to give EirGen a strong reputation in the international marketplace.”

The company’s focus for the future will be on growth in the US andEurope and expanding in new markets in Japan, Latin America, Asia and South Africa.

The company’s managing director and co-founder Patsy Carney said: “Our state-of-the-art, purpose-built high containment facility, coupled with our highly experienced team, has resulted in eight products under registration with the US Food & Drug Administration and the European regulatory authorities and a total of 13 successful clinical studies.”