Economic Recovery: 200 new jobs ‘another milestone’ for pharma industry
The jobs at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, a US company headquartered in Tarrytown, New York, will bring to 500 the workforce at its Raheen Industrial Park plant and represents an investment totalling €650m.
When Regeneron, which makes bio-processed drugs, announced its decision to set up in Limerick in December 2013, it projected the creation of 300 jobs, with an investment of €300m.
The expansion outlined yesterday means the Limerick facility will house the largest biologics production facility in Ireland. It is located in an industrial building that closed down with the loss of 2,000 Dell manufacturing jobs three years ago.
Announcing the new jobs, Dan Van Plew, the senior vice-president of Regeneron, said: “In less than two years, we have brought a dormant building back to life and we are well on our way to completing a complex, high-quality facility here in Limerick.
“Our hundreds of current employees, contractors, and tradespeople are top-notch.
“Our people here, your countrymen, have done something remarkable here. We are an exciting company, with excellent career opportunities.
“We are growing and we need talented people to join us in creating something truly special here in Limerick.”
Regeneron has been hailed by Forbes magazine as one of the world’s most innovative companies.
Its 400,000sq ft (37,100sq m), state-of-the-art biologics facility in Limerick is now fully operational and the first production line will commence delivering products within the next month.
Recruitment for the high-end specialist jobs in commercial manufacturing, process sciences, quality control, and various support functions for scientists, chemists, and technicians is currently underway.
Finance minister Michael Noonan said: “Today’s announcement is further evidence that the Government’s strategy to grow the economy is working and the economic recovery is spreading to regions throughout the country.”
