AstraZeneca to Invest $360 Million in Advanced Manufacturing Facility in Ireland

AstraZeneca announced on Sept. 21, 2021 that they will be investing $360 million into a new manufacturing facility that will produce small molecule APIs in Ireland. The new plant is planned to support both late-stage development and early commercial supply.

According to a company press release, the facility will be capable of manufacturing various medicines, including new modalities such as antibody drug conjugates and oligonucleotides. The company also expects the facility to significantly reduce commercialization costs and lead times, as well as introduce more sustainable manufacturing processes. This would contribute to the company’s Ambition Zero Carbon program, which aims to have zero carbon emissions by 2025.

The planned investment is at Alexion Campus in College Park, Dublin. The project, which was developed in collaboration with IDA Ireland—Ireland’s investment agency—is expected to create approximately 100 highly skilled direct jobs, such as scientists and engineers, as well as additional indirect jobs.

“I warmly welcome today’s announcement from AstraZeneca that it is to establish its first ever manufacturing facility in Ireland.” said Micheál Martin, Taoiseach [prime minister of the Republic of Ireland], in the press release. “In choosing Ireland as the location for its new next-generation active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing facility, AstraZeneca joins the very strong and successful network of global life sciences companies we have in Ireland. I wish them every success with their operations here.”

“This is a tremendously proud moment for us all at AstraZeneca, and I am delighted that we are bringing this very significant investment to Dublin which, with the support of the IDA, will create highly skilled jobs, nurture the country’s dynamic life sciences sector and allow for the development of high value-added medicines.” said Pascal Soriat, CEO of AstraZeneca, in the press release.

Source: AstraZeneca