200 New Jobs Announced In Waterford

Two hundred new jobs are to be created in Waterford by OPKO Health, which has announced the expansion of its EirGen Pharma facility in Westside Business Park.

The diversified healthcare company is to establish a new Product Development Centre in the Waterford Business and Technology Park. The company is locating in the IDA's newly built Advance Technology Building (ATB) on the park.

The construction of 11 ATBs around the country forms part of the Government's Regional Jobs Plan, and today's announcement is supported by the Department of Jobs through IDA Ireland.

EirGen Pharma was established in 2005 by two former IVAX Pharmaceuticals executives, Patsy Carney and Tom Brennan. EirGen focuses on the development and commercial supply of specialised oncology products for global markets. EirGen was acquired by OPKO Health Inc. in May 2015. OPKO's planned growth of EirGen's presence in Waterford over the next five years involves the expansion of EirGen's existing manufacturing facility in Westside Business Park and the establishment of the R&D Centre with manufacturing capabilities for new sterile fill finish and dry powder inhalation products.

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation Richard Bruton said: "At the very heart of our jobs plans is ensuring that we spread the benefits of the employment recovery to cities, towns and villages in every part of the country. The South East suffered particularly badly from the crash and we placed a particular focus on this region as part of our plans since taking office.

"It is hugely encouraging that the South East is now enjoying the fastest rate of jobs growth in the country. Today's announcement that the first Waterford ATB will be occupied by a top-class company like EirGen, with the creation of 200 much-needed new jobs for the city, is a great boost. I wish Patsy and Tom and all the team every success with this project."

Phillip Frost, M.D., Chairman and CEO of OPKO Health, also said: "Today's announcement marks a significant milestone for EirGen Pharma and this investment underpins our strategy to establish Ireland as a Centre of Excellence for R&D and supply chain activities. We appreciate IDA's efforts to create an attractive business environment for companies like ours, and we look forward to expanding our workforce by drawing upon the region's highly skilled labour pool."

(MH)