MSD opens new €100m R&D centre in Tipperary

Today marks a milestone for MSD and the Ballydine facility.  The decision to locate a worldwide pharmaceutical R&D centre in Ballydine was due to a number of factors, chief among which was the credibility, track record and expertise of the Ballydine team, the technology and infrastructure at the site and the support we have received from the Irish Government and IDA Ireland.

Willie Deese, Executive Vice President and President Merck Manufacturing Division.

September 22nd 2011: “This strategically important development for MSD which brings R&D and high-value jobs to our economy is a significant endorsement of Ireland’s wealth of talent and expertise,” said the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD speaking at the official opening of the new €100m pharmaceutical R&D centre at MSD in Ballydine, Co. Tipperary. “The decision by this global healthcare leader to invest in Ireland in order to provide the capability to bring new innovative medicines to market faster is an endorsement of my government’s strategy to focus on job creation and the knowledge economy.”

Construction on the new R&D facility at the existing Ballydine site began in September 2007 and since then 70 new high calibre roles have been created. It is anticipated that this number could increase to 120 as further innovative medicines are developed at MSD in Ballydine. An additional €6 million investment is already in the planning phase to extend the new facility and add extra capacity.

There are currently six new innovative medicines in development at MSD Ballydine including a new candidate medicine for the combined treatment of high cholesterol and Type II Diabetes which affects 90% of the 346 million people worldwide who have diabetes (WHO Aug 2011) and a new candidate medicine for the treatment of Hepatitis C which accounts for more than 350,000 deaths each year worldwide (WHO June 2011).

The Taoiseach joined with Mr. Willie Deese, Executive Vice President and President Merck Manufacturing Division and other senior MSD representatives and CEO IDA Ireland, Barry O’Leary at the event.

“Today marks a milestone for MSD and the Ballydine facility,” according to Willie Deese, Executive Vice President and President Merck Manufacturing Division. “The decision to locate a worldwide pharmaceutical R&D centre in Ballydine was due to a number of factors, chief among which was the credibility, track record and expertise of the Ballydine team, the technology and infrastructure at the site and the support we have received from the Irish Government and IDA Ireland.”

“In the year that we celebrate 35 years of successful operations at Ballydine, the site has now evolved to be firmly rooted in R&D commercialisation which will enable us to bring new and innovative medicines to the patients who need them faster,” said General Manager, David O’Connell. “From a site perspective, this underpins Ballydine’s strategic importance within the MSD global network and significantly increases and diversifies the level of high profile research and development conducted at the site which, in turn, is the lifeblood for growth of the company and the life sciences industry as a whole.”

“Ireland has a long, successful track-record of attracting significant pharmaceutical investment from multinationals. We have now established Ireland as one of the leading global locations for the Development and Manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals”, said Barry O’Leary, Chief Executive, IDA Ireland. “This investment, which is supported by IDA Ireland, is yet another demonstration of MSD’s continuing commitment to Ireland. The Ballydine site plays an increasingly strategic role in delivering MSD’s pipeline of drugs and is an excellent addition to the South East region.”

The MSD Ballydine site also supplies material in support of MSD's clinical research programme worldwide. MSD, who has a worldwide annual R&D budget of $8.6 Billion, has five Top Priority candidate medicine research programmes worldwide and three of these are now being developed at the Ballydine facility.

Notes to Editor
Today's MSD is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. The company is known as MSD worldwide, except in the United States and Canada where we are Merck. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer care and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For more information, visit www.msd.ie.

MSD in Ireland

MSD employs 2,300 people directly in Ireland through its 8 operations at sites in Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Tipperary and Wicklow. In the last five decades the company has invested over €2.2bn in Ireland. MSD is one of Ireland's leading exporters and contributes significantly towards making the pharmaceutical industry the country's leading export sector. MSD is a member of Guaranteed Irish and manufactures or packages many of its leading products for the world market in Ireland.
MSD in Ballydine currently employs over 450 people and more than 70 full time contractors and represents an annual spend of €240 million. The site exports products to over 30 countries with its main markets in Europe, USA and Japan. The site’s secondary mandate of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) supply still remains very significant and Ballydine currently supports 17% of MSD’s worldwide total revenues of $46 billion.

The new facility at Ballydine, Co. Tipperary, will use innovative technology platforms to develop processes for the formulation of solid dosage pharmaceutical product candidates used in late stage clinical trials. The formulation manufacturing facility will also enable the plant to manufacture initial launch quantities of newly approved products.

Media Contacts
Ann-Marie O'Sullivan
Tel. 021 4 666 210 / 086 8188163, E-mail aosullivan@hagroup.ie
Sarah Connolly, Corporate Communications Manager, MSD
Tel. 01 299 8734 / 087 95 40430, E-mail: sarah.connolly@merck.com

IDA Ireland Press office
Tel. 01 6034226