US Pharmaceutical Company, Aerie Pharmaceuticals, is to establish its first manufacturing plant in Athlone’s Technology & Business Park with an initial investment of €55m. Some 80 jobs will be created at the plant.
Headquartered in California, with locations in New Jersey, North Caroline and Dublin, Aerie Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialisation of first-in-class therapies for the treatment of patients with glaucoma and other diseases of the eye.
Aerie’s new facility in Athlone is being supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through IDA Ireland and will supply global markets with its ophthalmic products RhopressaTM and RoclatanTM in 2020.
This state-of-the-art facility will include end to end operations – compounding, sterile filling, and packaging with all support capabilities (QC labs, warehousing etc ). Globally Aerie Pharmaceuticals employs approximately 150 professionals, and plans to recruit approximately 80 in the Athlone facility during the next 18 months.
Speaking during his recent visit to the plant, Vince Anido, CEO, said: “Glaucoma is the second leading cause of irreversible blindness and the number of people with this disease is estimated to grow to 80m globally by 2020. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for glaucoma, but first-in-class therapies such as the ones we’re developing will help patients to better manage the disease and thus improve the quality of their lives,”
Local talent was one of the primary reasons Aerie Pharmaceutical selected Ireland to establish its first manufacturing facility.
“Ireland is one of the best locations in the world when it comes to high calibre talent, compliance and quality assurance in pharmaceutical manufacturing. It also has a strong track record of delivering start-ups and manufacturing excellence in highly-regulated industries which makes it the perfect location for Aerie Pharmaceuticals,” said Barry Ivin, site director.
Aerie Pharmaceuticals is currently sourcing for 2018 positions in manufacturing, quality, science, engineering and other support capabilities for their new facility in Athlone. To find out more visit www.cpl.ie/ /Aerie.
