Abbvie to add 70 jobs at its Cork plant

€60m investment to expand manufacturing operations at Carrigtwohill

Making the announcement at AbbVie Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork were Malcolm Garde, AbbVie Site Director; Azita Saleki-Gerhardt Executive VP Operations AbbVie and Michael Lohan, Head of Life Science, Engineering and Industrial Technology IDA Ireland. Pic Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision

Biopharma company Abbvie is to invest €60m at its manufacturing plant in Cork creating 70 additional jobs.

The expansion will include the development of a new facility at its plant in Carrigtwohill that will allow it to support AbbVie’s aesthetics business.

The US company said will also leverage the expansion to carry out upgrades that will improve the carbon footprint of the wider Cork site. Construction will begin next year with manufacturing operations scheduled to begin in 2025.

Along with the current announcement, AbbVie is also embarking on a three-year strategic training programme at the Carrigtwohill facility. The initiative is supported by the Government through the IDA and will enhance and develop key workforce skills to support incoming new technologies.

The Carrigtwohill plant open in 2002 and currently employs approximately 150 people.

Malcolm Garde, Site Director, AbbVie Cork, said: “This latest investment is a fantastic opportunity for the Cork site and a recognition of the expertise and commitment of our dedicated employees over the past 20 years."

"The expansion and associated cutting-edge technologies will help us to further develop our employees and attract new skilled talent.” IDA Ireland CEO Martin Shanahan said: “Marking two decades of successful operations at its manufacturing site in Carrigtwohill by making a further €60m investment, creating 70 additional jobs, is a strong endorsement and demonstrates a clear commitment to the company’s Cork site."

Conor Healy, the CEO of Cork Chamber welcomed AbbVie's decision but called on the Government to provide sustainable transport and infrastructure. "Government must reverse the decision to not fund the N25 Carrigtwohill to Midleton multi-modal route given the level of investment flowing into the area."

"The acceleration of delivery of new suburban rail stations and cycle ways is necessary to ensure continued support for current and future growth in East Cork."

One of Abbvie's key products is the anti-wrinkle injection material Botox. The world’s supply of the hugely popular product is manufactured at Allergan’s facility in Westport, Co Mayo. Sales of Botox for cosmetic use came in at $862m (€866m) for the first half of the year. Botox, which AbbVie acquired through its $63bn (€63.3bn) purchase of Allergan, is also approved for therapeutic use, including for chronic migraine headaches.