Elan's €35m Athlone expansion to create 120 jobs

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Harney has announced that Elan Corporation is to establish a new sterile biopharmaceuticals plant at the company's Athlone facility.

The €35 million investment by Elan at the plant in Co. Roscommon, which has attracted support from IDA Ireland, will create 120 new jobs over the next five years in supervisory, quality control, engineering, laboratory and operative areas.

The pharmaceuticals company is engaged in the research and development of innovative drugs for a range of diseases, and the investment is the result of a renewed focus on biopharmaceuticals.

Welcoming the investment announcement the Tánaiste said: "The decision to locate this facility in Athlone underlines once again Ireland’s continued competitiveness and our attraction as a location for investment. The new employment opportunities represent welcome news for the Midlands and the surrounding area.

"We have secured a major biopharmaceuticals manufacturing presence in a regional location and I congratulate the Irish management team for their success in ensuring that this investment will take place in Athlone.”

The Executive Vice President and Head of Global Services & Operations (GS&O) of Elan, Paul Breen, added: “We are very pleased with this major investment in the Athlone facility. Together with a further US $178 million investment by Elan in the past few years, this site is now a key part of Elan’s overall business strategy. Elan has a long and proud history in Athlone and with this investment we look forward to continuing our presence here.”

Elan’s Athlone facility currently employs 438 people, and is involved in product development, optimisation and manufacture of pharmaceutical products for Elan and third parties.

The company said that the investment in the Athlone facility would maintain its stature as a key part of the company’s future global business.

(SP)