BioMarin expands Cork site to 20 acres

American biotechnology company BioMarin expects to complete three new lab expansions at its Cork site by the third quarter in 2018.

The company began an expansion project two years ago to cater for growth at the Shanbally-based site and recently extended its footprint there to 20 acres. The US biopharmaceutical company is also looking to recruit up to 50 staff for its Cork-based site at the moment.

The Irish expansion comes on the back of a rise in global demand for BioMarin’s therapies to treat rare genetic diseases that mostly affect children. The company currently has six approved products that are the only drugs available for the diseases they treat.

When the site growth is finished the company will have an expanded warehouse as well as new administration and utilities offices.

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"Ireland has proved to be an ideal location to expand our operations. The team at Shanbally has enabled us to accommodate our growing commercial portfolio and advancing clinical programs," said Jean-Jacques Bienaimé, chairman and chief executive of BioMarin.

“As we continue to grow in Shanbally, we are looking to recruit the best and brightest in a variety of disciplines to help us continue our inspiring work for patients.”

At the official opening of the company's new expanded site, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney, said: "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 50 open positions across a variety of departments at Shanbally waiting to be filled.”

BioMarin’s Shanbally site was licensed in May of this year by the US Food and Drug Administration for a range of activities including bulk production, quality-control testing, quality-assurance release, final product packaging and distribution.

Since establishing in Ireland in 2011, the company has grown to 365 employees in Cork, with an additional 67 people based in Dublin.