24th August 2015
340 staff employed by leading biotech company in key location for their global operations
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD has officially opened a new $300 million facility for leading biotech company, Amgen in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. The facility currently provides 340 jobs and delivers state-of-the-art manufacturing capability to Amgen.
The development of the new facility included the construction of an 11,500 square metre production plant known as Production Module 3 (PM3), a new 5,800 square metre cold chain warehouse and major refurbishment of the other buildings which already existed on site. Additionally, the new syringe filling facility adds to the capabilities that already exist at the site and positions the Dublin plant as a key location within Amgen’s global organisation.
Work on the project, which was supported by the Department of Jobs through IDA Ireland, began in November 2011, creating over 500 construction jobs.
Speaking about the project, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD said, “The story of this project encapsulates the recovery of the Irish economy. In 2010 the previous owner announced it was selling the Dun Laoghaire facility, with the loss of more than 200 jobs. However in the subsequent years Amgen announced that it was purchasing this facility, saving the existing jobs and creating 100 extra jobs. By investing millions of euros in innovation and in its workforce, and by bringing new product lines to Ireland, this Amgen facility provides a great example of how innovative companies can excel in this country. I am delighted that my Department and IDA were able to play a role in this project.”
Commenting on the official opening Martin Shanahan, CEO, IDA Ireland said, “As one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies, Amgen’s investment in Ireland is hugely significant to both the local economy and to Ireland’s reputation as a location of excellence for biotechnology investments. The Irish facility plays a central role in Amgen’s global manufacturing footprint.”
Kerry Ingalls, Vice President with Amgen said, “We are very proud of the world class manufacturing capability our new facility brings to the Amgen network. Amgen’s innovative medicines have helped millions of patients around the world and our new facility will enable us to serve many more patients with grievous illnesses.”
“In Amgen Dun Laoghaire (ADL) I have seen what can be achieved when people with a passion come together to work on a shared vision. We have introduced four products to the site and delivered new capabilities to the Amgen network. We expect to continue to introduce further new products and the site will play an important role in helping Amgen deliver for every patient, every time. We are very positive about the future.”
“At Amgen, we believe in unlocking the potential of biology for the benefit of patients and we believe in being a good neighbour in the communities where we operate. With this joint focus the Amgen Foundation has committed over €600,000 to Irish science education programmes from secondary school to advanced third level education. By investing in science education we want to help create a brighter and healthier future for Ireland, benefitting our employees, our neighbours and the rest of Irish society.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact
Amgen Dun Laoghaire: Laoise O’Murchu, Senior Corporate Affairs Manager
Tel (01) 2049499; Mobile 087 6553852; Email lomurchu@amgen.com
About Amgen
Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.
Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its biologics manufacturing expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.
For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen.
About Amgen Dun Laoghaire (ADL)
Amgen Dun Laoghaire is an aseptic operations facility, specialising in secondary manufacturing activities: formulation, fill, lyophilisation and packaging. The ADL site also includes laboratories and cold chain warehouse capabilities. Amgen is developing the capability to produce all of its medicines in Dun Laoghaire, helping to ensure continuity of supply of our medicines as we expand internationally. The $300 million expansion of the facility completed in 2015 further strengthens the capabilities of the site and offers further capabilities to the Amgen network. It also positions the Dublin plant as a key location within Amgen’s global organization.
Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and others that can be found in our Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2014 filed with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, and in any subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Amgen is providing this information as of the date of this news release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those we project. The Company's results may be affected by our ability to successfully market both new and existing products domestically and internationally, clinical and regulatory developments (domestic or foreign) involving current and future products, sales growth of recently launched products, competition from other products (domestic or foreign), and difficulties or delays in manufacturing our products. In addition, sales of our products are affected by reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payors, including governments, private insurance plans and managed care providers and may be affected by regulatory, clinical and guideline developments and domestic and international trends toward managed care and healthcare cost containment as well as U.S. legislation affecting pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement. Government and others' regulations and reimbursement policies may affect the development, usage and pricing of our products. Furthermore, our research, testing, pricing, marketing and other operations are subject to extensive regulation by domestic and foreign government regulatory authorities. We or others could identify safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with our products after they are on the market. Our business may be impacted by government investigations, litigation and product liability claims. If we fail to meet the compliance obligations in the corporate integrity agreement between us and the U.S. government, we could become subject to significant sanctions. Further, while we routinely obtain patents for our products and technology, the protection offered by our patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by our competitors. We depend on third parties for a significant portion of our manufacturing capacity for the supply of certain of our current and future products and limits on supply may constrain sales of certain of our current products and product candidate development. In addition, we compete with other companies with respect to some of our marketed products as well as for the discovery and development of new products. Discovery or identification of new product candidates cannot be guaranteed and movement from concept to product is uncertain; consequently, there can be no guarantee that any particular product candidate will be successful and become a commercial product. Further, some raw materials, medical devices and component parts for our products are supplied by sole third-party suppliers. Our efforts to integrate the operations of companies we have acquired may not be successful. We may experience difficulties, delays or unexpected costs and not achieve anticipated benefits and savings from our ongoing restructuring plan. Our business performance could affect or limit the ability of our Board of Directors to declare a dividend or our ability to pay a dividend or repurchase our common stock.
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