Athlone hosted three of the Irish government figures to consult on a vision for Ireland's future in the domestic manufacturing of critical medicines.
Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment; Rory Mullen, Head of BioPharma and Food at IDA Ireland and Noeleen Hussey, Regional Manager for the West Region, IDA Ireland, met with the Athlone Laboratories leadership team last Monday to discuss the future of domestic critical medicines in Ireland.
In a statement, Athlone said that the meeting "focus[ed] on Beta-Lactams."
Beta-lactams are an essential class of antibiotics vital to patient care and health systems. Under the Critical Medicine Act, the EMA prioritises the supply and availability of critical medicines to ensure they remain accessible to patients.
Athlone Laboratories and its sister company, Gaelic Laboratories, are among the companies in Ireland specialising in the manufacture of Beta-Lactam antibiotics, meaning they both play a significant role in Ireland's contract manufacturing for critical medicines.
Athlone has been manufacturing Beta-Lactams on its site for more than 40 years and its recent acquisition by Gaelic Laboratories—another GMP-approved manufacturer of Beta-Lactams—only adds to both companies' security and resilience.
Brian Morrisey, General Manager, said: "As both companies contribute to the supply chain for Beta-Lactam antibiotics, we can leverage many operational synergies."
The two companies can coordinate manufacturing resources to support supply continuity. We have the overall annual capacity to produce 1.2 billion oral Beta-Lactam oral dosage forms.
Peter Burke, as Minister for Enterprise, has been instrumental in implementing the Critical Medicines Act in Ireland, which aims to address the EU's challenges with the security of supply of critical medicines, such as antibiotics.
By strengthening the EU's supply chains and improving coordination between member states, the Act seeks to ensure that European patients have access to the medicines they need.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister Burke said: "I'm looking forward to working closely with Athlone Laboratories over the coming period, as they contribute to Ireland's vibrant Life Sciences sector here in the Midlands."
Ireland is home to nine of the world's ten largest pharmaceutical companies and manufactures a substantial share of the world's most widely used medicines, solidifying our country's role as a centre for pharmaceutical manufacturing and innovation.
"I want to wish Brian and his team all the best at an exciting time of growth for both Athlone and Gaelic Laboratories."
As the national development agency responsible for attracting foreign investment, IDA Ireland representatives Rory Mullen and Noeleen Hussey aimed to stimulate discussion to ensure the pharmaceutical industry continues to thrive.
Ireland is a global hub for pharma manufacturing, with a growing CMO cluster of which Athlone Laboratories said it was "proud to be a member."
"Athlone Laboratories is a key contributor to Ireland's reputation as a global centre for pharmaceutical innovation," said Rory Mullen, Head of BioPharma at IDA Ireland.
Their commitment to manufacturing critical medicines such as Beta-Lactams strengthens our national supply chain and supports patient care across Europe and beyond. IDA Ireland is pleased to champion the company's growth and continued investment in the Midlands.