Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) announced plans to construct a new state-of-the-art, large-scale biologics manufacturing facility in Ireland. The new site will produce multiple therapies for the company’s growing biologics portfolio, including approved and investigational biologic medicines across multiple therapeutic areas (oncology, virology and immunoscience).
The 30,000-square meter project will house six 15,000-liter bioreactors and a purification area as well as office and laboratory space. The plant will be built on the grounds of the existing bulk pharmaceutical manufacturing plant and will host approx. 350 to 400 professionals.
The full cost of the facility, expected to be finalized in the second half of 2015, is anticipated to be comparable to the approximately $900 million investment made for the company’s biologics manufacturing facility in Devens, Massachusetts. The facility, including commissioning and validation, is estimated to be operational in 2019.