WHEN Pfizer began construction of its first plant in Ringaskiddy in 1969, there was a hope that the facility producing citric acid and gluconate products would be the first of many which would ultimately make Cork and Ireland a global giant in the pharmaceutical trade.

Athlone-based pharmaceutical company Elan today announced that legal eagle Richard C. Collier would be joining the company as executive vice president and general counsel at the end of the month.

The pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. is to buy its rival Pharmacia Corporation for $60bn (€60.3bn).