PHARMA GIANT Pfizer is investing a further $200 million at its Grange Castle plant in Dublin.

The US group is expanding the number of processing suites and the biotechnology manufacturing plant in Clondalkin to allow it increase production capacity.

The new units will facilitate more product testing.

Grange Castle is one of the largest biotech manufacturing sites worldwide, employing 1,100 staff.

It produces two of the US group’s blockbuster drugs – the pneumococcal vaccine Prevenar and the rheumatology medicine Enbrel.

Up to 400 construction jobs will be created during the building of the plant. The company did not indicate any increase in other employment as a result of the investment.

Announcing the investment yesterday, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said it was welcome news from a global leader in biopharmaceuticals.

“Pfizer has made a tremendous contribution to Ireland’s Life Sciences industry since it first established here in 1969 and this investment is a further demonstration of the company’s continuous commitment to Ireland,” he said.

Paul Duffy, Pfizer’s top executive in Ireland, said the investment would allow the company “to help meet the needs of patients throughout the world by introducing new technologies and capabilities at Grange Castle, where we produce highly complex vaccine and biologic products for patients around the world”.

Pfizer chief financial officer and executive vice-president Frank D’Amelio said: “With pharmaceutical and chemical products accounting for over 50 per cent of Irish exports and a long history in pharmaceutical excellence, Ireland is a prime location for this major investment.”

Pfizer is one of Ireland’s leading employers, with about 4,300 workers at eight separate locations around the State.