Pharma firm to set up Irish HQ

A GLOBAL pharmaceutical firm is to set up its new headquarters in Co Louth, creating up to 200 jobs.

Warner Chilcott said it will be filling positions for high-skilled technical, manufacturing and support staff in the coming years for the base in Dundalk.

The firm specialises in developing products which focus on the women’s healthcare, dermatology and urology segments of the US and Western European pharmaceuticals markets.

President and chief executive, Roger Boissonneault, said: “We anticipate that the new facility will play an integral role in the growth of our business.”

Warner Chilcott’s base is expected to house executive offices, analytical services, manufacturing operations and shared services to support its EU operations.

The investment is supported by the Government through IDA Ireland.

Tánaiste and Enterprise Minister Mary Coughlan said she was delighted Warner Chilcott had chosen Dundalk for this operation.

“This development is excellent news for the north east region and Ireland as a whole,” Ms Coughlan said. “Dundalk is one of Ireland’s busiest economic corridors, between Dublin and Belfast, and today’s announcement will bring new high-quality employment opportunities to the region, adding further to the region’s portfolio of world class foreign direct investment companies operating here which include Xerox, Heinz, Moffett, Diageo, ABB, National Pen and Satir.”

The firm has manufacturing facilities in the North, Germany and Puerto Rico, and is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange.