Biopharma group Biomarin brings another 51 jobs to Cork

Biomarin International is creating more than 50 new jobs with an investment in a new drug product filling project at its facility in Shanbally, Co Cork.

The US company says the project will allow it to maximise the flexibility of the site. Biomarin produces drugs to treat rare genetic diseases that mostly affect children.

The investment, estimated at around €40 million, is projected to create an additional 51 roles and will augment the site’s drug substance manufacturing and the secondary packing and labelling capability.

A planning application will be submitted in the coming weeks. An additional 100 hundred people will be involved in the construction, commissioning and qualification phases of the project.

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Biomarin executive vice-president Robert Baffi said the introduction of fill finish capacity at Shanbally provides for fully integrated manufacturing from bulk to drug product onsite.

Tremendous growth

“During our seven years of operations at Shanbally, we have seen tremendous growth at the site. This expansion ensures that an increasing amount of our commercial products will be manufactured at the site.”

Since Biomarin opened its doors in Cork in 2011, it has grown to employ more than 350 people, with an additional 55 staff based in Dublin. The company has more than 2,600 employees globally.

IDA Ireland executive director Mary Buckley said the investment further consolidates Ireland's position globally as a location of choice for biopharmaceuticals.

Tánaiste Simon Coveney, who was on hand at the announcement, described Biomarin as an "amazing" company.

“When Biomarin invested in Cork back in 2011, it was a pretty depressing time in the Irish economy. Since then, Biomarin has spent over €200 million on this site,” he said. “They started off with 150 workers here. By the end of 2020 there will be over 400 workers here. It is a reminder of how attractive Cork is as an international destination for business.”