Purification train at Wyeth's new biotechnology campus at the Grange Castle International Business Park in Clondalkin, Dublin, Ireland Photo: Pharmaceutical-technology.com

Wyeth Ireland, Ireland’s largest pharmaceutical employer, has announced the creation of 24 jobs and four additional departments at its Wyeth Pharmaceuticals division as a result of it becoming independent of Wyeth UK in June 2007.

In an investment worth €5 million, the new Medical, Regulatory, Corporate Affairs and Operations and Quality departments and positions will be based in the company’s new corporate headquarters at Ballycoolin in Dublin, which were officially opened today by Minister Brian Lenihan, T.D. for Dublin West.  

Announcing the creation of the new departments and jobs, Wyeth Ireland’s General Manager Emmet Browne said:: “Wyeth has been an employer in Ireland for more than 30 years and we are continuing to invest significantly across our pharmaceutical, biotechnology and R&D activities, including announcing a €24 million investment in our Newbridge facility in October and €5 million today in our new corporate headquarters at Ballycoolin.

Our move to Ballycoolin is as a result of continued growth as an independent affiliate and is testament to the ongoing success of Wyeth in Ireland. In addition, the creation of the new departments including Medical and Regulatory equips us to fast track the launch of many new and innovative products in our pipeline and bring them to market sooner, which further supports our business and benefits patients.”

The Minister said: “I am delighted to welcome another Wyeth investment in West Dublin and to see the company further consolidate its presence in, and commitment to, Ireland. It is bringing 24 further jobs to the Dublin West area and I am glad to support the Wyeth commitment to this area. Their €5 million investment today shows that their confidence in Ireland's economy remains strong."

In total, Wyeth Ireland employs over 3,000 people at five locations including the €1.8 billion Wyeth Biotech Campus at Grange Castle in West Dublin, Europe’s largest biotech facility.  Wyeth Ireland additionally has facilities at Wyeth Medica in Newbridge Co. Kildare, Wyeth Nutritionals in Askeaton Co. Limerick, which manufactures Ireland’s leading infant milk formula SMA, and Fort Dodge Laboratories in Sligo, one of the largest suppliers of animal medicines in the world.

Internationally, Wyeth is the tenth largest pharmaceutical company in the world, employs 50,000 people in over 100 countries and had net revenues of $20.4 billion in 2006.  R&D expenditure for the year was $3.1 billion.