200 highly-skilled jobs are to be created at the Waterford-based healthcare company OPKO Health as part of the future expansion of the EirGen Pharma facility in Westside Business Park.

Founded in 2005 by two former Ivax Pharmaceuticals executives, Patsy Carney and Tom Brennan, EirGen Pharma was acquired by the multinational OPKO Health in May of last year, and the new parent company now plans on expanding EirGen Pharma’s facility on the outskirts of Waterford city.

In particular, OPKO plans on growing EirGen’s presence in the south-east region over the next five years with the expansion of EirGen’s existing manufacturing facility in Westside Business Park, as well as the establishment of an R&D centre with manufacturing capabilities for new sterile fill finish and dry powder inhalation products.

In doing so, OPKO says it will need to fill 200 highly-skilled positions once this new development phase is completed and it can begin moving into the new facilities.

South-east bouncing back

The company plans on locating its new facilities in IDA Ireland’s newly-built Advance Technology Building (ATB) on the park, one of 11 being built around the country.

Phillip Frost, MD, chair and CEO of OPKO Health, said in a statement on the news: “Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone for EirGen Pharma and this investment underpins our strategy to establish Ireland as a Centre of Excellence for R&D and supply chain activities.”

Adding similar praise, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton said: “The south-east suffered particularly badly from the crash and we placed a particular focus on this region as part of our plans since taking office. It is hugely encouraging that the south-east is now enjoying the fastest rate of jobs growth in the country.”

Under OPKO, EirGen specialises in the development, registration and commercial supply of specialised pharmaceutical products that are mainly used in cancer treatment, with its key markets currently being the EU, US, Japan and the Middle East.

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