How Munster's pharmaceutical industry is responding to the global race for a Covid-19 vaccine

The global race for a Covid-19 vaccine has led to a surge in pharmacuetical activity and recruitment across Munster, writes Aisling Kiernan

The Thermo Fisher plant in Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork. The company is supporting more than 200 Covid-19 projects globally. Picture: David Creedon

The global search for Covid-19 treatments has resulted in a surge of pharma activity in Ireland and Munster.

Given the scale of the pandemic, more than 160 vaccines are under development across the world. Such treatments normally take years and even decades to research, produce and get approval for medical use but these time frames have been condensed significantly by companies racing to find a cure.