USA – Becton Dickinson (BD) is investing US$79 million (€70 million) in a new research laboratory at its Limerick headquarters, which will create 130 jobs.

The project would take five years, according to the company, which already employs 1,300 people across four operations in Ireland, including 350 in Limerick.

BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) manufactures medical devices such as syringes, diagnostic systems, blood collection equipment, and laboratory equipment.

The company began operations in Ireland in 1964 and now has four locations. The Limerick facility in Castletroy, which opened in 2017 and serves as the company’s global research hub, employs 350 people.

Its mission is to increase the productivity and efficiency of BD products while lowering costs and time to market. It also houses centers of excellence in specialized disciplines such as information security, biocompatibility, and toxicology.

According to the announcement made by the company, high-quality research and development positions in engineering and scientific disciplines such as software, electronics, hardware, and immunology will be added.

The investment will further position the facility as a hub for the development of smart, secure connected health and infection monitoring solutions in clinical and non-clinical settings,” the company said.

The facility will be expanded to include a cutting-edge laboratory, workspaces, and technologies to support the company’s new innovations.

Our BD Research Centre Ireland plays an essential role in delivering products and solutions to improve biomedical discovery, the diagnosis of disease and the delivery of care for patients,” BD’s Chief Technology Officer Beth McCombs said.

Continuing to attract the best and brightest minds in Limerick and across Ireland will be critical to help BD deliver on our purpose of advancing the world of health.

Last week, the company announced the creation of 100 jobs at its Drogheda operations, following a approximately US$70 million (€62 million) investment in new equipment to expand syringe production at its Donore Road site.

In other related news, Vifor Pharma Group has announced that it has divested its finished drug product manufacturing business to CordenPharma, a full-service Contract Development & Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) of APIs, Excipients, Drug Products, and associated Packaging services.

This decision reinforces Vifor Pharma’s strategy to transform the company into a multi-brand commercial organization by focusing on its core capabilities in licensing, partnering, and commercializing nephrology products, as well as expanding and maximizing the opportunities in its iron portfolio.

Still staying with Vifor Pharma, CSL has completed a US$16.4 billion acquisition of Switzerland’s Vifor Pharma Group, gaining a foothold in rapidly growing markets for kidney disease and iron deficiency treatments to supplement its core immunodeficiency and hemophilia therapies.

CSL has offered $US179.25 per Vifor Pharma share, valuing the Swiss pharmaceutical company’s equity at $US11.7 billion (US$16.4 billion), and has received unanimous board approval.

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