Jobs boost for county as pharma giant announces €250m investment
The announcement was made yesterday by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), which will plough the money into developing its plant at Currabinny.
The project envisages increasing manufacturing output, especially the active ingredients for Tykerb, a new oral treatment for advanced breast cancer.
GSK decided on the investment after the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tykerb, in combination with the drug Xeloda, for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
Data from trial tests has shown that Tykerb, in combination with Xeloda, is effective for women whose disease has recurred despite previous treatment.
Worldwide, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women, resulting in over one million new cases annually. Each year around 360,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in Europe, while in Ireland, one woman in eleven will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.
Andrew Witty, president of GSK Pharmaceuticals in Europe, said the FDA approval of Tykerb was great news for those women with advanced breast cancer and demonstrates the company’s commitment to the development of novel cancer treatments.
“We are dedicated to the further study and development of Tykerb in a variety of settings including adjuvant breast cancer as well as in other solid tumour types and I’m delighted that Irish researchers will be assisting us in this regard,” Mr Witty said.
Pharmachemical Ireland director Matt Moran said the announcement clearly showed Ireland remained a location of choice for new investment. “We must ensure that there remains compelling reasons for the major manufacturers to stay and expand their operations here. Pharmaceutical and chemical exports were valued at over €40 billion by the CSO last year and the IDA estimates that the sector has invested over €12 billion in capital since the industry first arrived in Ireland in the late 1960s. Nine of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies in the world have operations in Ireland,” he said.
Minister for Enterprise, Micheál Martin said: “It is marvellous news for the pharmaceutical industry base in Ireland, but even more so for the millions of women worldwide who suffer from the most horrific disease of breast cancer.”
He added it was further evidence of GSK’s commitment to Ireland, following on from its recent announcement of a major research collaboration with the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre in UCC.
