BioMarin development Creates an additional 40 positions as well as 65 construction jobs

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton, has officially launched the construction, validation and commissioning phase of manufacturing operations at BioMarin Manufacturing Ireland in Shanbally, Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork. This project is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through IDA Ireland.

The event highlighted the significant progress made since the global biotech company entered the region in August 2011 with exciting expansion plans for the 2013-2015 timeframe for the site which will manufacture products to treat rare genetic orphan diseases.

The company announced the creation of 100 jobs in 2011 and is currently hiring for these positions with 50 people already in place.  As a result of global demand for its products, the company will create a further 40 positions by 2015 across a range of activities including manufacturing and manufacturing sciences and technology, facilities and engineering, quality, information technology, finance and administration.

BioMarin has also partnered with many local engineering and contract firms to retrofit the Manufacturing Sciences and QC laboratories along with the installation of new gas, water and electricity infrastructure, which required 12,000+ construction hours. At least 65 further contract staff will be employed at the facility during the next phase of construction taking place from March until the start of manufacturing activities in 2015.

Officially launching the construction, validation and commissioning phase of manufacturing operations at BioMarin Manufacturing Ireland,Minister Bruton said “The pharmaceutical industry is central to the Government’s plans for jobs and growth, and we have put in place a range of measures to target opportunities in this area. In the context of global difficulties facing the traditional parts of the industry, we have put a focus on biopharma and generics, and we have managed to grow employment in the sector despite the challenges. Today’s announcement that BioMarin, a dynamic global biopharma company, is expanding further in Cork with the creation of jobs is a great boost for the city and for the industry. I am determined that we can see further announcements like this in the near future.”

Speaking at the event, Mr. Jean-Jacques Bienaime, Chief Executive Officer, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.  said “The launch of manufacturing operations here in Cork is an exciting development for BioMarin. We are delighted to have chosen Cork as the hub for our European manufacturing operations and have great confidence that the Shanbally facility will be key to our future developments globally. Ireland is the ideal place to grow our business. It has great infrastructure, routes to market, expansion opportunities and the availability of highly skilled personnel along with a strong scientific community and access to the National Institute of Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) capabilities.  I can see first-hand that Cork also offers another very important element to us – a great place to work and live for the team based here.”

Also in attendance at today’s event, Barry O’Leary, CEO of IDA Ireland said “Ireland has a long, successful track-record of attracting significant pharmaceutical investment from multinationals. We have established Ireland as the second largest Development and Manufacturing (D&M) location in the world for Biopharmaceuticals.  The Irish operation in Shanbally, Co. Cork is BioMarin’s only biopharmaceutical production facility outside of its HQ in California, US and as such, is well placed to manufacture BioMarin’s  growing commercial portfolio.”

The event provided invited guests with the opportunity to meet some of the key Irish and International BioMarin personnel including Jean-Jacques Bienaimé, CEO, Dr. Robert Baffi, Executive VP, Technical Operations; Eric Davis, Sr. VP, General Counsel; and Michael O’Donnell, Site Director at BioMarin Manufacturing Ireland Ltd; to find out more about the exciting plans for the plant in the immediate and more long term future.