23 September 2015
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Minister at State, Sean Sherlock TD today opened the fifth PharmaChemical Ireland (PCI), Parenteral Drugs Association (PDA), International Pharmaceutical Engineers (ISPE) Conference in the Radisson Hotel, Little Island, Cork.
Delighted to give opening address PharmaChem Ireland this am in Little Island. The shift in the sector is from blockbuster to niche buster
— Seán Sherlock TD (@seansherlocktd) September 23, 2015
The conference, entitled Continuing the Innovation Journey throughout the Lifecycle, brings together 200 delegates to discuss the latest regulatory and innovation developments facing the sector. An international panel of speakers from Ireland, the EU and the US will deliver the very latest ideas and thoughts that affect the industry globally at all stages of the evolution of medicines, from discovery to the market place.
Speaking at the conference PCI Director Matt Moran said: “These are very exiting times for the industry in Ireland. Over €3 billion worth of capital investment has seen the sector bounce back from the patent cliff environment into a period of sustained growth. We have seen a number of high profile investments especially in the biotechnology sector. Existing sites such as Pfizer, MSD, Allergan, Brsitol Myers Squibb, Mylan and Eli Lilly have invested significant sums in expansion. They have now been joined by new entrant to the Irish market, such as Alexion, Regeneron , Jazz and Biomarin.
“As we undergo such rapid expansion the need for skills has never been greater, over 2500 new jobs will be created in the next few years. State funded initiatives such as The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) and pharmachem Skillnets have vital role to play in this regard. I am optimistic that if industry, Government and the academic community work together we can meet this challenge and go onto even better times ahead.”
“A taxation environment that supports enterprise, investment and R&D remains of critical importance to this sector. The Government’s stated support for the 12.5% rate of corporation tax in this country is very welcome.”
