Athlone firm to create 50 jobs at new manufacturing facility

Pharmaceutical company Alexion has this morning (Thursday) announced a €100m investment into its Athlone operations.

The Monksland-based company is to construct a new biologics manufacturing facility at its local site, resulting in the creation of 50 new jobs.

This is expected to increase the total employment at the facility to over 100 people.

“Alexion is delighted to announce this additional expansion to our existing Athlone site as we deliver upon our mission to transform the lives of patients with ultra-rare diseases,” said Julie O’Neill, Executive Vice President, Global Operations, at Alexion.

“Ireland is a key location for Alexion’s global operations and we are committed to further developing our manufacturing facilities in the country to support increasing production needs of our highly innovative and life-transforming therapies.”

Alexion said its new new manufacturing facility demonstrates its 'continued commitment to Ireland and to Athlone.'

The current Athlone site houses a vial fill-finish facility. Alexion is also currently constructing a large-scale bulk biologics manufacturing facility at its Dublin site in College Park.

Between its facilities in Athlone and College Park, Alexion currently employs over 250 people in Ireland, and expects to continue to grow to almost 500 employees by the end of 2019.

Alexion has announced investments totalling €600 million in Ireland since 2014.

“This additional investment also demonstrates our commitment to job growth in Ireland and the Athlone region, as we look to hire the best talent locally as part of this site expansion,” said Grainne McAleese, General Manager, Alexion Ireland.

“Alexion is at the forefront of innovation and all our staff are passionate about our commitment to the patients we serve. We already have a well-established presence in Athlone since 2013, with a great local workforce, and we are very firmly committed to this region going forward.

“We are establishing collaborations with local schools and institutes of technology and will be offering excellent career opportunities for people in the area.”