Novo Nordisk prepares for ‘next chapter’ in Monksland

Novo Nordisk has said it will assess future workforce requirements for its expanded Athlone base once the construction phase of a massive €432 million investment at the Monksland site is complete.

The Vice-President and Site Head of Novo Nordisk Production Ireland Athlone, Tom Quinn, said the global healthcare company will be evaluating the "additional specialist capabilities and workforce requirements needed to support our future operations".

In March, Novo Nordisk announced the "next chapter" for its manufacturing facility in Monksland, Quinn citing the substantial investment to be a "significant vote of confidence" in the Athlone site.

The company previously indicated that the massive investment would not necessarily create new employment, stating instead that the existing 260 employees would focus on delivering the highest-quality oral treatments to patients.

The investment provides Novo Nordisk with additional manufacturing capabilities for oral products and will allow the Monksland facility to serve as a critical hub for servicing markets outside the US.

The investment will also support the upgrade and retrofit of the existing facility, as well as enhancing Novo Nordisk’s capacity to manufacture oral GLP-1s (oral weight loss drugs).

The vice-president said the investment will allow Novo Nordisk to "meet growing patient demand" for oral weight loss medications, while also "supporting" the company's "long-term ambitions" for the Athlone facility to play a "key role" in advancing "our purpose to drive change for lasting health".

Investment in the Athlone facility, Quinn said, marks an "exciting new chapter" for the site with "more than 50 years of pharmaceutical heritage" and "expertise in oral drug manufacturing".

"At this juncture, construction and engineering works, resulting in the creation of over 600 construction jobs over the coming years, are underway at the Monksland facility and we are now in the capital expansion project delivery phase, progressing with the major upgrade and retrofit of the Athlone facility," Quinn stated.

Quinn stated his hope that construction projects at the Monksland facility will be "finalised gradually from the end of 2027 through 2028", when "commercial manufacturing will recommence" on site.

"Our key priority is to successfully deliver the major expansion and retrofit of the Athlone site to support our ability to meet growing demand for oral weight loss treatments outside the USA.

"To that end, the work underway includes retrofitting of existing production facilities alongside enabling projects, such as utilities, infrastructure services, warehousing, and laboratories, which are needed to support high volume future manufacturing," Quinn said.

Quinn's commitment to the Monksland facility is clearly evident.

The substantial investment announced in March will also allow for the training, upskilling and capability building of employees so that the company's workforce have the "expertise required to operate and support new technologies, processes, and ways of working".

"Equally important is preparing our people for the future. Over the next three to five years, our focus will be on safely transforming the site, delivering this significant investment, building the capabilities and infrastructure required for future production, and positioning our Athlone workforce to play an increasingly important role in Novo Nordisk’s global manufacturing network," Quinn continued.

The vice-president credited the "strategic positioning" of its Athlone facility in the heart of the Midlands which, he said, has enabled the company "access a highly skilled workforce".

"We also benefit from strong relationships and continued support from IDA Ireland, Government, local county councils, training, and education bodies, as well as a long-standing relationship with Technological University of the Shannon (TUS). Our relationship with TUS and other local education and training organisations are important in supporting skills development and strengthening the long-term talent pipeline in the region.

"Together, these strengths and partnerships will position our Athlone facility for continued development and an increasingly important role within Novo Nordisk’s manufacturing network," Quinn added.

Novo Nordisk completed the purchase of Alkermes plc in May 2024.

In the intervening time, the company has continued its ethos of "pharmaceutical innovation" and "manufacturing excellence", focal points for Novo Nordisk spanning more than 50 years.

"Having previously operated under Elan and Alkermes, the site has developed deep expertise in oral drug manufacturing, supported by a highly skilled and experienced workforce whose knowledge, capabilities, and commitment continue to shape its success," Quinn added.

As Novo Nordisk continues to build on a "strong foundation", following its acquisition of Alkermes in May 2024, Quinn said the €432 million investment will being a "renewed focus on the future" and "strengthen Athlone’s role within the company's global manufacturing network".

"There is a real sense of pride in the history of this site, alongside a strong focus on what comes next. We are proud of where the site has come from and are equally excited about where it is going.

"By building on the expertise and commitment of our employees, developing the capabilities needed for the future, and combining decades of local knowledge with significant new investment, the site is well positioned to help meet growing patient demand and remain firmly anchored in the community for many years to come," Quinn said.

Quinn is proud of the company's connection with the community aiming to build on the "strong relationships" already in place with local stakeholders, including education and training organisations, local authorities, our community, and other regional partners.

"These collaborations will remain central to the long-term success of the Athlone site, helping to contribute to the continued growth of both the site and the wider Midlands life sciences sector," he stated.

Optimistic for the future of the Athlone facility, Quinn said the investment will "create a strong platform for the company's future".

The vice president acknowledged that the strength of the Monksland plant is the "unique combination of its talented people, a proud pharmaceutical heritage, strong links with the local community, and constructive regional partnerships".

"While we remain focused on successfully delivering our expansion programme, we look forward to the future of the site and the role it can play within Novo Nordisk’s global manufacturing network and advancing our purpose to drive change for lasting health.

"One of the most exciting aspects is the opportunity to build on the experience and expertise already established in Athlone as we prepare the site for its next chapter,” he concluded.