R&D collaboration
Ireland has scored another success in its attempts to tie grant-assisted inward investors into carrying out R&D in the country, with a new investment by Eli Lilly.
As the US pharma company began construction of a new €400 million monoclonal antibody facility at its site in Kinsale, County Cork, it announced an R&D collaboration with the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT).This will involve the co-development of analytical technologies to enable the monitoring of cell culture conditions.
Eli Lilly first invested in Kinsale in 1981 and currently employs 430 people there. The company manufactures the active ingredients for a number products including Zyprexa, for the treatment of schizophrenia, and Evista, for the prevention of osteoporosis, at the site.
The new Biopharmaceuticals Development and Manufacturing facility will create up to 200 jobs in the next 5 years. Laboratories to support technology transfer and future process development work, have already been commissioned and will be fully operational by the end of 2008.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin said, “The fact that the Irish facility was chosen for such a strategic investment against strong global competition further strengthens our position as a leading location for major biopharmaceutical activity outside the US. Eli Lilly’s Irish operation is poised to become the centre of excellence in biopharmaceutical manufacturing technology for the company.”
The new CEO of Eli Lilly, John Lechleiter, making his first public appearance since taking up the post, said, “This will be the sole site for the commercial development of monoclonal antibody technology for Eli Lilly worldwide.”
Martin added that the IDA’s purpose in setting up NIBRT was act as a magnet for investment in the biopharmaceuticals. “This collaboration with Eli Lilly is an example of what was envisioned for NIBRT and we are looking forward to witnessing the fruits of this partnership as it progresses.”
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