Recruitment underway for new Athlone pharma facility

US-based pharmaceutical company PPD is on track to open its new Athlone facility in the fourth quarter of this year, and recruitment has begun to fill the first tranche of positions, the Westmeath Independent has learned this week. In much needed good news on the Athlone employment front, the North Carolina pharma company confirmed it plans to open the new analytical testing laboratory in Garrycastle Business and Technology Park towards the latter end of 2009. It's thought up to 50 jobs could be created in the first year. A statement from the company said that PPD was on track to begin operations in the fourth quarter of this year and recruitment was underway at present for laboratory assistant and scientist-level positions. Recruitment for lab support staff is to increase in the third and fourth quarters of this year once the senior management team is in place, the company explained this week. A new analytical testing laboratory will be established in Athlone, the chief function of which will be conducting testing for clinical programs spanning all phases of drug development. The facility will offer testing services in method development as well as validation, stability and quality control testing. Last December Taoiseach Brian Cowen travelled to Athlone to announce the PPD jobs boost, a development that is expected to yield up 250 jobs over the next five years. With IDA supports, the company expects to invest up to €14 million in the Athlone base and create approximately 250 high value positions over five years for Ph.D. level scientists, analytical laboratory staff and other clinical development professionals. The analytical facility will conduct testing for clinical and commercial programs spanning all phases of drug development. A planning application has been lodged to Westmeath County Council to make some modifications to the Garrycastle site including a new first floor and 24 parking spaces. A decision is due at the beginning of August. PPD is a leading global contract research organisation providing discovery, development and post-approval services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device companies and academic and government agencies. Clients include almost all of the world's top 50 pharmaceutical companies and more than 250 biotechnology/small pharmaceutical and medical device companies. "Ireland offers a business-friendly environment and highly skilled work force," said Fred Eshelman, CEO of PPD at the jobs announcement last December. "The support from the Irish Government, in particular IDA Ireland, was a key factor in our decision to establish this strategic part of our business in Athlone." PPD has offices in 33 countries and employs more than 10,500 worldwide, including nearly 3,000 in Europe. Anyone interested in applying for Athlone positions should contact http://www.ppdi.com/careers.