Alkermes aims to be bigger than Elan

Alkermes plc which took over the site previously owned by Elan last September, is hoping someday to be bigger than its predecessor. Shane Cooke, president of Alkermes plc in Ireland, said: "We think there is a great opportunity to build another very large bio-tech company that will be based in Ireland and someday be bigger than Elan." He made the comments last week at the Monksland site, during a visit by Richard Pops, the company's CEO. Mr Pops also announced the creation of 20 new jobs at its site in Monksland, which will bring the workforce at the facility up to the 420 mark. Mr Cooke expressed its satisfaction with the takeover process since last September. "I think if you asked anybody at the site they would be very happy with the new relationship we have with Alkermes and are very excited about the future for the company as a whole, not just for this site but for the whole business," he said. *To read our full interviews with Richard Pops and Shane Cooke of Alkermes Plc, see this week's edition of the Westmeath Independent.