Bristol-Myers Squibb to shed 160 jobs by end of next year

Pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb has announced the closure of its facility at Cruiserath in Blanchardstown, west Dublin with the loss of 130 jobs.

A further 30 jobs will be lost at its manufacturing plant in Swords, Co Dublin.

In a statement, the company said the decision to close its Cruiserath operation came due to a change in market demand for several products manufactured there. It will close at the end of 2015.

Elsewhere, a single operating unit at its Swords plant will also close within the same time frame.

The company said this was due to “ongoing optimisation in the company’s manufacturing network” but that in the future the facility, which employs over 320 people, would “remain a key supplier” of bulk pharmaceuticals.

In a statement, Susan Hynes, general manager of API Operations Ireland, said: "Bristol-Myers Squibb has a long history in Ireland and the company's presence here plays an important role in the BMS global manufacturing network.

"The company is working with IDA Ireland to explore potential future uses of the Cruiserath facility and will endeavour to minimize job losses in Ireland".

It is understood that the trade union Siptu has requested an urgent meeting with management following the announcement.

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global bio-pharmaceutical company specialising in innovative medicine to treat serious illness, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis and psychiatric disorders.

According to the company, it currently employs over 27,000 people worldwide and approximately 550 in Ireland at its Global Manufacturing and Supply (GMS) and Commercial operations.