Allergan plans $350m expansion of Irish plant
pharmafile | January 10, 2012 | News story | Manufacturing and Production |Â Â Allergan, IrelandÂ
Allergan has announced plans to invest $350 million in an expansion of its manufacturing facility in County Mayo, Ireland, a move which will create up to 200 additional jobs within the next four years.
The expansion of the Westport site will also boost the local economy with the creation of another 250 construction jobs, according to IDA Ireland. Allergan has bought a technology park adjacent to its existing facility that will house a new manufacturing and development centre.
The programme will further Allergan’s headcount in Ireland to around 1,000, and also marks a significant increase in the late-stage product development capabilities of Westport and provides a platform for manufacturing the company’s development portfolio of biologic drugs.
The Westport facility is one of Allergan’s primary production units for Botox (botulinum toxin type A), which is seeing surging demand following approval in new indications, including prophylactic treatment of chronic migraine and urinary incontinence associated with neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury.
Allergan is now predicting 2011 sales of Botox will come in at around $1.6 billion, up from $1.4 billion in the 2010. Around 50% of the product’s sales are destined for cosmetic applications, but the company is seeing significant sales growth from therapeutic applications.
“Based on Allergan’s present strategic plans, we anticipate that demand for Botox will continue to grow, fuelled by recent approvals of the product”, said Pat O’Donnell, managing director of the company’s Irish operations.
Welcoming the Allergan investment, IDA Ireland chief executive, Barry O’Leary said: “Allergan already contributes significantly to the national and local economies, investing an average of $25 million capital expenditure per annum in Ireland, in recent years”.
Phil Taylor
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