120 Jobs Boost For Tipperary

Pharmaceuticals company Merck Sharp & Dohme has announced that 120 jobs are to be created at its Tipperary plant.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment Micheál Martin announced a major new investment for South Tipperary. Merck Sharp & Dohme

The company are to invest €100 in the creation of further research and development initiatives at a Formulation R&D and Manufacturing Facility at its plant in Ballydine with the support of IDA Ireland.

Merck Sharp & Dohme’s (MSD) operation at Ballydine was established in 1976 and employs 340 people. It is a large-scale plant producing active pharmaceutical ingredients for use in pharmaceutical manufacturing by Merck & Co., Inc. subsidiaries throughout the world. In recent years, a second affiliate was established in Dublin dedicated to clinical research, regulatory affairs, marketing and sales operations.

The new investment will involve two specific areas of activity. A research and development (R&D) centre will develop innovative platforms for the formulation of products used in late stage clinical trials. The new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility will enable the Ballydine plant to produce tablets and capsules for a number of new products in late stage clinical trials and for new products launched on the market. This investment of €100 million will create 120 new positions over the next three years, including approximately 60 R&D positions.

Welcoming the investment Minister Martin said: “Today’s announcement is very welcome news for the people of Tipperary and the region. We are delighted that the MSD plant in Ballydine is performing to such a level that it was selected for this cutting-edge R&D and clinical trials manufacturing facility. The number of high level positions which will be created reflects the significant scale of the R&D investment. The new facility will be strategically important to Merck & Co., Inc's worldwide operations and will greatly enhance the company's future in South Tipperary."

Dr Michael P Thien, Vice President of Global Pharmaceutical Commercialisation for Merck & Co., Inc., said the investment was essential to Merck's commercialisation initiative that will bring new medicines to market more quickly and flexibly.

He added that the decision to locate a facility in Ballydine was based on a “number of factors” including "the consistent support and encouragement we received from the Irish Government, the availability of skills in the industry necessary for an operation of this level and a supportive business environment in which to operate."

(SP)