26 February 2016
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
New manufacturing facility and laboratory will enhance capability for future product portfolio and underpins GSK’s investment in Cork
GSK, has announced the opening of a €12m investment project at its Currabinny-based manufacturing site in Cork. The investments – a €9.5m Kilo Scale Facility and a €2.5m Technical Development Laboratory – were opened by Roger Connor, GSK’s Global Manufacturing Supply President and Joe Power, GSK Cork Site Director.
The new purpose-built Kilo Scale Facility will allow the site to begin manufacturing highly specialised active ingredients for newer, targeted oncology medicines while the new Technical Development Laboratory will further enhance its ability to improve its current product portfolio which includes treatments for diseases such as cancer, HIV and depression. GSK, who last year celebrated 40 years in Cork, employs 450 employees at the Cork site. The global healthcare company employs over 1,800 staff across four locations in Ireland. – Cork, Dublin, Waterford and Sligo.
Kevin O’Keefe, Head of Engineering at GSK Cork, commented, “Our new Kilo Scale Facility represents an important new opportunity for GSK in Cork, the plant will expand our operating scale to allow us introduce new targeted medicines that require highly specialised manufacturing equipment, this investment opens up new potential for Cork to produce these in the future.”
Joe Power, Site Director, commented, “This substantial investment demonstrates GSK’s strong commitment to our Cork site. It’s a wonderful endorsement of the world-class technical capability we have here and will work to attract new business for the operation. It will also be very rewarding for our employees, knowing the difference they will be making to patients all over the world who will ultimately take the medicines that started out here in Cork.”
GSK has now invested over €700m in the Cork site since its inception in 1974. Last year, GSK invested €30million in R&D in Ireland, which has contributed significantly to the company’s global success in scientific innovation.
