The €38m expansion project will allow the biopharmaceutical firm to start end-to-end production of several of its commercial products and expand its pipeline

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The Shanbally site will now produce, package and label BioMarin therapies for global distribution. (Credit: IDA Ireland)

US-based biopharmaceutical firm BioMarin Pharmaceutical has announced the opening of its expanded manufacturing plant in Shanbally, County Cork, Ireland.

The company has invested €38m over four years to develop the aseptic production facility.

The Shanbally site will produce, package and label BioMarin therapies for global distribution.

IDA Ireland, Ireland’s inward investment promotion agency, said the expansion will allow the biopharmaceutical firm to start end-to-end production of several of its commercial products.

The expansion will also enable the company to manufacture additional clinical and commercial products like gene therapies to expand its pipeline.

BioMarin chief technical officer and EVP Greg Guyer said: “Our wholly-owned, end-to-end manufacturing sites, including Shanbally, are critical to BioMarin’s global supply capabilities.

“This expansion positions us as a leading manufacturing operation in Ireland and will help us maintain our industry-leading production and delivery capabilities for patients around the world.”

The Shanbally site is now said to be the only manufacturing site outside of the US that can offer a fully integrated manufacturing process, from bulk drug substance to drug product to final packaging.

It is also one of a few facilities in Ireland with technology for end-to-end commercial drug production.

Currently, BioMarin has eight marketed treatments, including its first gene therapy launched in 2022.

The company opened its first site in Ireland in 2012. Currently, the company has more than 500 people across two locations in Ireland, the Shanbally manufacturing site and Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin.

The Earlsfort Terrace also serves as the biopharmaceutical company’s headquarters for Canada and Europe.

Additionally, BioMarin is investing around €30m to expand its packaging operations at Shanbally.

The company has also planned to hire more than 40 people across its operations at the site in the coming days.

Shanbally’s expansion project aligns with the firm’s commitment to invest in future operational capabilities to aid the growing demand for its therapies in Europe and around the globe.

IDA Ireland CEO Michael Lohan said: “As a global leader in the manufacturing of treatments for rare diseases, BioMarin’s ongoing investment in Ireland is a welcome endorsement of the country’s position globally as a location of choice for biopharmaceuticals.”