It was announced today that Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney TD, has officially opened a new expansion at BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. in Shanbally, Co Cork.

BioMarin has recently extended its site footprint to 20 acres as the company continues to experience a rise in the global demand for its therapies to treat rare genetic diseases that mostly affect children.  

This expansion project began two years ago to cater for continued growth at the site and includes an expanded warehouse, new administration and utilities offices, a canteen and conference facilities. The site will also see the installation of a Waste Water Treatment Plant later this year, while three new lab expansions are to be completed by the third quarter 2018. 

Since opening its doors in 2011, the company has grown to 365 employees in Cork, with an additional 67 people based in Dublin and 2,400 employees globally. BioMarin focuses on developing therapeutics that have the potential to improve clinical outcomes of patients with rare genetic diseases. The company currently has six approved products that are the only drugs available on the market today for the diseases they treat. 

Welcoming the expansion today, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney said, "Today’s announcement represents a significant investment in the local economy. Shanbally is BioMarin’s only manufacturing facility outside the US and what they have done in such a few short years is very impressive. The company is continuing to grow and I understand that there are up to fifty open positions across a variety of departments at Shanbally waiting to be filled. BioMarin is a prime example of the high-tech  Life Sciences companies that this area of Cork has a reputation for."

Source: www.businessworld.ie