All systems go for PPD opening as planning hurdle jumped

US-based pharmaceutical giant PPD Ltd has got the green light to make modifications to a unit in the IDA Business Park in Garrycastle ahead of their projected opening in Athlone before the end of 2009. Westmeath County Council gave the thumbs up to the company yesterday (Tuesday), whose headquarters is in North Carolina, to make some changes to a warehouse including internal first floor construction of 1,159 square metres and provision of 24 additional car parking spaces. The development comes in the wake of a recent statement from PPD some weeks ago confirming that they are on track to open their new Athlone facility in the fourth quarter of this year, and recruitment has begun to fill the first tranche of positions. In much needed good news on the Athlone employment front, the company said at that stage, they plan to open their new cGMP 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 is on track to begin operations in the fourth quarter of this year and recruitment is 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. A new cGMP 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. 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. The US firm 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