The new manufacturing facility includes drug substance manufacturing, drug product manufacturing along with quality control labs
Image: Latest Image of WuXi Biologics Factory of the Future in Ireland. Photo: Courtesy of WuXi Biologics.
Biologics technology platform company WuXi Biologics (WuXi Bio), through its subsidiary WuXi Vaccines, has announced its plans to build a new vaccine manufacturing facility in Ireland.
WuXi Bio offers solutions for biologics discovery, development, and manufacturing, while WuXi Vaccines operates as a human vaccine Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO).
WuXi Biologics CEO and WuXi Vaccines chairman Chris Chen said: “We’re excited to dedicate our first vaccine manufacturing facility in Ireland to enable a large global pharma in the field of vaccines.
“Due to process complexity, extensive analytic testing and rigorous regulatory standards, vaccines are difficult to manufacture, and process and quality control are extremely critical for the quality of the product.
“This new project to exclusively manufacture a vaccine for a global large pharma to supply the global market is among the first of its kind in the industry and is a further testimony to the technical strengths, premier quality, and commercial manufacturing expertise which WuXi Biologics will bring to Dundalk.”
WuXi Vaccines discovers, develops and manufactures vaccines
The company said that it is committed to investing $240m for the new manufacturing facility, which follows the 20-year manufacturing Letter of Intent (LOI) signed earlier this year.
Under the terms of the LOI, the new manufacturing facility dedicated for vaccines production is intended to supply vaccine products for the global market and includes drug substance manufacturing, drug product manufacturing along with quality control labs.
The new vaccine manufacturing facility is planned to be located within the WuXi Biologics Campus adjacent to the ‘Factory of the Future’ biologics drug substance manufacturing facility, subject to planning approval. The commercial manufacturing at the new facility will start in 2021.
Ireland Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys TD said: “I am delighted to announce 200 highly-skilled jobs in WuXi Vaccines, which is in addition to the 400 roles announced last year by WuXi Biologics for Dundalk. Today’s announcement demonstrates, once again, that the Border region is a very attractive location in which to invest.”