US biopharma firm Alexion Pharmaceuticals is to construct a €450m manufacturing facility in Blanchardstown, which will create 200 jobs in the firm, bringing its total workforce in Ireland to almost 500 employees.

Alexion's Blanchardstown biologics manufacturing facility will be the first that the company has constructed outside the US.

The company established operations in Ireland in 2013 and currently runs two facilities, one in Athlone and one in College Park in Blanchardstown, where the new facility will be built.

Phase one of the IDA-backed College Park facility, comprising a global supply chain HQ, laboratories, and packaging and warehousing operations, is expected to be operational by year-end.

Around 560 construction workers are involved in the development of the current Athlone and College Park projects, and the planned expansion of College Park will also create over 800 construction jobs.

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Pending planning permission, phase two of the Blanchardstown project is expected to take four years to complete.

Julie O'Neill, EVP global operations with Alexion, said that the construction project was enabled by the ability to recruit highly competent and professional personnel to support the production and distribution of Alexion's medicine, Soliris, and its pipeline of biologics medicines.

She added: “Alexion has a unique mission to develop life-transforming therapies for patients with severe and life-threatening ultra-rare disorders.

“We are already serving the very few patients in Ireland suffering from two very rare and devastating diseases; with this major expansion, our Irish operations, comprising biologics manufacturing, vial fill-finish and global supply chain, will be at the forefront of this vital work globally.”

Alexion was criticised earlier this year by the HSE and some Dail TDs over the price charged for its Soliris medicine, which cost in the region of €430,000 per patient per year.