Biopharmaceutical company Merck has announced plans to invest €440m in Cork -based facilities and to create 370 jobs in the area over the next five years.
The plans represent Merck’s biggest ever investment in a single site life sciences operation.
The investment will involve increasing its membrane manufacturing capacity at its Carrigtwohill site, as well as building a new manufacturing facility at Blarney Business Park.
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The new filtration manufacturing facility will cost almost €150 million.
It will increase the company’s global manufacturing capacity and supply customers producing both traditional and novel treatments.
Over €290 million will be spent on the expansion in Carrigtwohill, with Merck adding a manufacturing facility for the immersion casting of membranes.
These membranes support novel and gene therapies, as well as applications like virus sterilisation, plasma separation and finger prick rapid testing.
The membranes also serve the Process Solutions business, which is one of the ‘Big 3’ growth drivers for Merck. Process Solutions markets products and services for the entire pharmaceutical manufacturing value chain.
Merck aims to increase its Group sales to approximately €25 billion by 2025, Cork Beo reports.
To achieve this growth target, the company increased its total investments between 2021 and 2025 significantly compared with the period from 2016 to 2020.
The announcement follows a €36 million investment at the same site in 2021 for a second lateral flow membrane manufacturing product line.
Now formally open, this facility produces lateral flow membranes, most commonly used in rapid diagnostic testing for rare diseases such as dengue fever, malaria and Ebola. They are also a key component in rapid antigen tests, which are used for the detection of COVID-19.
Speaking at the site’s official announcement, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “I welcome today’s very significant announcement from Merck, which underlines the company’s commitment to doing business in Ireland."
"This investment, the largest in the history of Merck Life Science, speaks volumes about our capacity to provide the right conditions for multinational organisations to grow their operations. Ireland’s development of a strong life sciences ecosystem has been one of our greatest economic successes.
"I am delighted that Merck has chosen Cork for its latest investment. I wish the team continued success, as they work towards improving lives around the world.”
“Ireland is central to our strategy to drive long-term growth and expand our global leadership position in Life Science,” said Matthias Heinzel, Member of the Executive Board of Merck, and CEO, Life Science.
“The investment in Cork is the biggest site investment in the history of our Life Science business and will accelerate the delivery of the critical products, technologies and services our customers need to fight the world’s toughest health challenges, including COVID-19."
Martin McAuliffe, Managing Director and Head of Cork Operations at Merck, said: “Today’s announcement of the decision to construct a new membrane manufacturing facility in Carrigtwohill and the development of a new filtration manufacturing facility in Blarney is a testament to the capability, hard work and dedication of all our colleagues here in Cork.
"Beyond that, it is a statement of Merck’s commitment to our Irish operations. These new investments secure a bright future for Merck in Cork and enable us to expand our capabilities here, generating new employment opportunities in future technology.”
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