75 new jobs will be created as part of a $40 million investment.
Pfizer has confirmed that it will produce a component of its Covid-19 vaccine at its Grange Castle facility in Ireland.
The company will begin making the component at the West Dublin site by the end of the year.
This will be an mRNA substance to aid the manufacture of the jab outside of Ireland.
Up to $40 million is expected to be invested in the facility and 75 new jobs will be created as a result.
“Since Pfizer and BioNTech started distributing their Covid-19 vaccine in December 2020, the companies have made several enhancements to the vaccine’s supply chain,” Pfizer said in a statement on Wednesday.
“These enhancements include expanding their existing facilities, adding more suppliers, and bringing on additional Pfizer/BioNTech sites and contract manufacturers around the world to produce the vaccine.
“As such, Pfizer is now bringing on additional European-based facility to be a part of the global Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine supply chain network and Grange Castle (Ireland) will contribute to the worldwide supply of the vaccine.
“Up to approximately $40 million will be invested in Grange Castle and an additional 75 roles will be recruited.”
The company is expecting to have the facility in operation, creating the component before the end of the year.
“Pfizer’s Grange Castle facility will produce mRNA drug substance. Given the extensive technical transfer process, on-site development, equipment installation, and regulatory approvals needed for the sites, we expect both facilities will be brought onto the network by 2021,” the statement read.
VP of Pfizer’s global supply, Dr Paul Duffy, said that the company is hopeful that the expansion will help “defeat this devastating pandemic”.
“This is a very significant moment for Ireland and our Grange Castle site. We are immensely proud to be able to play a part in manufacturing Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine,” he said.
“Since last year, Pfizer, in partnership with BioNTech, has worked tirelessly to expedite the development, approval, and scale-up of our Covid-19 vaccine.
“The company has continually expanded manufacturing capability and external partnerships to deliver increased doses to the world to help defeat this devastating pandemic.”
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