Helsinn sets up Euro 13m oral solid dosage r&d centre
Helsinn Holding, a privately owned Swiss pharmaceutical company with manufacturing facilities in Ireland, is to establish a Euro 13m r&d centre for oral solid dosage (OSD) at its Helsinn Birex Pharmaceuticals facility, one of four businesses at its site at Mulhuddart, Dublin.
Helsinn Holding, a privately owned Swiss pharmaceutical company with manufacturing facilities in Ireland, is to establish a Euro 13m r&d centre for oral solid dosage (OSD) at its Helsinn Birex Pharmaceuticals facility, one of four businesses at its site at Mulhuddart, Dublin.
The investment, which is supported by Government through IDA Ireland, will create 10 research jobs.
Helsinn's expertise is in the in-licensing of late-stage pharmaceutical compounds in therapeutic niche areas including oncology supportive care, anti-inflammatory and gastrointestinal treatments. The investment is part of Helsinn's strategic decision to strengthen its in-house development capability.
Irish Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan, said: "This investment will establish the Irish operation as the centre of knowledge and learning for OSD products in the Helsinn Group and the launch site for new products within its portfolio."
Helsinn's Irish operation was established in 1990, when it acquired Birex Pharmaceuticals in Dublin. To date Helsinn has invested more than €55m in Ireland where it employs total of 210 people at its four separate businesses - Helsinn Birex Pharmaceuticals, Helsinn Chemicals Ireland and a sales and marketing company, Helsinn Birex Therapeutics with its Ergha Healthcare division.
Riccardo Braglia, chief executive of the Helsinn Group, said: "This new investment in r&d is another important step for the Irish operation and will be of significant benefit for the future of our international business, with the aim of centralising in the new plant any scientific development for oral solid dosage products."
