Amgen acquisition to secure 280 jobs

US BIOTECHNOLOGY giant Amgen has agreed to acquire a Dublin plant from pharma group Pfizer in a transaction that will secure 280 jobs.

The announcement marks a coup for IDA Ireland, which has targeted an investment from the world’s largest biotechnology group for several years. The Californian group has also held out the prospect of expanding its presence over the next few years.

Amgen initially announced plans for a $1 billion investment in a state of the art plant in Cork in January 2006. However, a slowdown in business worldwide saw the project delayed, initially for two years, and eventually cancelled.

Amgen specialises in developing drugs for cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis and bone disease. Under the deal announced yesterday, which is expected to be completed in the second quarter of the year, 240 workers at the plant will transfer to Amgen. The remaining 40 staff will remain with Pfizer.

The former Pfizer plant had been scheduled to close following a restructuring announced by that company last May.

Amgen will initially manufacture Pfizer’s products at the plant. However, it said yesterday it intended to develop “the capability to formulate and fill its biological products at the site and expand the manufacturing capabilities there over time”.

“As we expand internationally, the Dublin site will help us deliver a growing supply of Amgen medicines for patients worldwide,” said Madhu Balachandran, senior vice-president, Amgen Manufacturing.

“We are impressed with the technical expertise and commitment to excellence demonstrated by the employees who work at the Dún Laoghaire site.”

IDA Ireland chief executive Barry O’Leary said the decision gave “a substantial boost to Ireland’s life sciences sector”.

He said the retention of all the jobs at the plant was “testament to the hard work and dedication with which they continued to operate this facility during a difficult and uncertain period”.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton said it was a primary target of the Government to get the economy moving, restore confidence and create jobs.

“Today’s announcement, by the world’s largest biotechnology company, shows that leading corporations do in fact retain confidence in Ireland as a location for foreign direct investment.”

Tánaiste and Minister for Trade Eamon Gilmore said the retention of 280 jobs and the prospect of further growth by Amgen ended a period of uncertainty for management and staff.

Siptu, which represents around 200 of the staff, welcomed the announcement. “We look forward to establishing a good working relationship with Amgen and we would hope to build on the positive industrial relations landscape that already exists on site,” said Siptu organiser Michelle Quinn.

Matt Moran, director of Ibec lobby group PharmaChemical Ireland, said: “The move . . . is further proof of Ireland’s attractiveness as a place to invest and do business.”