Cork at forefront of pharma's latest blockbuster drug

While Cork is already successful in the production of industry winners, Eli Lilly's obesity and weight loss drugs are different, making them an even easier sell

Enterprise Minister Peter Burke and Eli Lilly chief executive Dave Ricks. Eli Lilly has announced that it will commit €1.6bn to expand its manufacturing footprint in Ireland. Picture: Arthur Ellis

For years, Cork has been the production epicentre of some of the largest blockbuster drugs to shake the global pharmaceutical industry.

From Lipitor, a cholesterol-lowering medication and one of the highest-selling drugs of all time while under patent protection, to the manufacturing of Viagra, which last year held the largest share of the erectile dysfunction drug market at almost 58%, Cork has positioned itself as a production powerhouse responsible for some of the world’s most crucial medical innovations.