IRELAND – Biopharma company Abbvie is to invest US$58.9 million (€60m) at its manufacturing plant in Cork creating 70 additional jobs.
The expansion will include the development of a new facility at its plant in Carrigtwohill that will allow it to support AbbVie’s aesthetics business.
One of Abbvie’s key products is the anti-wrinkle injection material Botox. The world’s supply of the hugely popular product is manufactured at Allergan’s facility in Westport, Co Mayo.
Sales of Botox for cosmetic use came in at US$862m (€866m) for the first half of the year. Botox, which AbbVie acquired through its US$63bn (€63.3bn) purchase of Allergan, is also approved for therapeutic use, including for chronic migraine headaches.
The US company said will also leverage the expansion to carry out upgrades that will improve the carbon footprint of the wider Cork site.
Construction will begin next year with manufacturing operations scheduled to begin in 2025.
Along with the current announcement, AbbVie is also embarking on a three-year strategic training program at the Carrigtwohill facility.
The initiative is supported by the Government through the IDA and will enhance and develop key workforce skills to support incoming new technologies.
The Carrigtwohill plant opened in 2002 and currently employs approximately 150 people.
Malcolm Garde, Site Director, AbbVie Cork, said: “This latest investment is a fantastic opportunity for the Cork site and a recognition of the expertise and commitment of our dedicated employees over the past 20 years.“
AbbVie has a strong presence on the Emerald Isle, with seven other locations across the country in Dublin, Sligo, and Mayo.
Ireland has become awash in manufacturing expansion projects, and AbbVie is the latest to get in on the action.
Just a few days ago, J&J announced it was expanding its contact lens manufacturing site to the tune of over US$100 million.
Abbott Laboratories is also investing over US$450 million in Kilkenny to build a new site to manufacture its glucose monitors.
Pharma companies such as J&J, Merck KGaA, Cambrex, Horizon, AstraZeneca, and others have also all announced or kicked off major, multimillion-dollar expansion projects in Ireland.
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