Chinese company plans to create 400 jobs at a new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Louth

Wuxi Biologics, a Chinese company, is set to create 400 jobs in the pharmaceutical sector. The project, scheduled to be completed in the next five years, is being constructed on an IDA land at Mullagharlin in county Louth’s Dundalk Town.

The company will be investing €325m in its new biologics drug substance manufacturing facility.

This will be Wuxi’s first state-of-the-art project outside China.

It is designed in such a way that continuous bioprocessing is carried out. The project also has the distinction of being the largest facility in the world to use single-use bioreactors.

When the company officials expect the facility to create about 400 jobs in the pharmaceutical sector, they estimate that more than 700 jobs will be generated during the construction of the facility.

Speaking during the announcement, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said that Dundalk is the first Greenfield project from China in the pharma sector and is therefore very happy.

“It’s also the latest in a number of investments in this town which has become a hub for a range of sectors, mainly in the new knowledge based and pharmaceutical sectors,” he added.

Meanwhile, IDA CEO Martin Shanahan said WuXi is a strong addition to Ireland’s growing bio pharmaceutical industry and IDA is pleased to support the project.

Dr. Chris Chen, CEO of WuXi Biologics, said the company is excited and the facility will be a vital part of the global network.

“We are committed to Ireland and will work with all local partners to build this state-of-art next generation bio manufacturing facility as a showcase to the global biotech community,” he added.