THE Waterford based pharmaceuticals firm Norton has announced plans to recruit an additional 100 staff over the next six months, following a recent £10 million expansion programme.

Norton, whose expansion was backed by the IDA, expects employment to grow to around 500 people. It says one of the main reasons for its expansion has been the success of its R & D division in developing products which have been given US Food & Drugs Administration approval.

Norton is a subsidiary of the Norton Healthcare Group part of the IVAX Corporation in the US. It makes a range of pharmaceuticals for treating ulcers, hypertension and cardiovascular disease as well as several asthma products.