Pharmaceutical giant MSD Ireland has officially opened its €1bn manufacturing facility in Swords four years after commencing construction in 2018.
The MSD Biotech site employs 350 people and there are a further 70 open positions at the facility.
The company, which is the Irish arm of New York-listed Merck & Co, employs 3,000 people across six sites in Ireland and has invested over $4bn in its Irish operations to date.
Speaking at the opening, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “MSD has a strong legacy in Ireland that stretches back over 50 years, and today’s opening is an endorsement of that past success and commitment to the future.
"This investment is a vote of confidence in the talent of our workforce, and Ireland’s reputation as a cradle for biopharma innovation. I wish all the team at MSD here in Ireland continued success as they work towards improving the lives of patients.”
In Association with
Robert M Davis, president and CEO of MSD, said: "Our MSD team in Ireland plays an integral role in delivering on our company’s purpose of using the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world.
"Our ongoing investment in Ireland, including this state-of-the-art facility in Swords, is a testament to our commitment to the country and our talented colleagues in Ireland.
"I am pleased to join in the opening of our new MSD Biotech site, which will play an important role in our global network.”
Mairéad McCaul, managing director of MSD Ireland Human Health and head of MSD Ireland, added: “At MSD Ireland, we believe that Ireland has earned a reputation for global excellence in the biopharma space, and we are proud that MSD is leading that charge.
"Our people work at the forefront of science and technology to advance manufacturing excellence and R&D across our Irish sites and global network. MSD Biotech is a great illustration of the incredible innovation happening here on our doorstep that is helping to improve the lives of patients all over the world.”
Liam Dunne, MSD Biotech Dublin site lead, said: “We are very proud to be officially opening MSD Biotech Dublin today. We look forward to delivering life-saving medication to patients all over the world and thanks to our new state-of-the-art facility we will be able to do so at speed and scale.
"We have a number of open roles that will provide significant opportunities for employees to be a part of a pivotal, global hub for MSD’s biologics-based medicines.”
MSD announced in August that it intends to add 100 jobs in Carlow to strengthen its manufacturing capabilities to meet demand for its medicines and vaccines.
Photo: (l-r) Mairéad McCaul, Liam Dunne, Micheál Martin, and Robert M Davis.
