Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is to invest more than €11m in a new research laboratory at its Ringaskiddy site in Cork. IDA Ireland is backing the investment.
The new laboratory will be a dedicated research and development facility within the Process Development Centre (PDC) at the site. It will research, develop and create new manufacturing technology for more efficient production at Pfizer's facilities around the world.
Pfizer's Ringaskiddy site employs more than 550 people. It consists of four API (bulk pharmaceutical) plants producing a range of materials for many of Pfizer's major products. 70% of all Lipitor tablets are produced in Cork by Pfizer, which has eight different operations in Ireland employing a total of 2,000 people.
Dr Paul Duffy, Pfizer's vice-president of manufacturing in Ireland, said the decision to invest in Cork was based on 'demonstrated technical competence with similar projects' and its successful completion of a number of other research programmes.
