Remarks by the Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen, T.D., at the Official Opening of the PPD Facility, Athlone, 1st March, 2010.
Good Afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I'm delighted to join you for the official opening of the new PPD (Pharmaceutical Product Development Inc.) contract research facility in Athlone.
PPD made the decision to set up this facility in 2008 and I had the pleasure of announcing it in December of that year. I am very happy to be here again today, as we turn the next page in the story of PPD in Ireland.
PPD is a leading global contract research organisation, providing a range of services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies, as well as academic and government agencies. It counts among its clients almost all of the world's top 50 pharmaceutical companies and more than 250 biotechnology/small pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
This facility, which will initially include a cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice) analytical testing laboratory, involves a €14 million investment and the creation of 250 high quality jobs in the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors. It is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland. The jobs include Ph.D. - level scientists, analytical laboratory staff and other clinical development professionals. The cGMP facility will enable PPD to continue to serve its growing client base in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and to win new business in this region.
I would like to pay tribute to the following people who played a key role in choosing Ireland for this investment and who have travelled from the US to be with us here today:
General David Grange, Chief Executive Officer;
Patti McNamara, Executive Director;
Lee Babis, EVP Global Laboratory Services;
Bruce Petersen, Senior VP, GMP and Bioanalytical Labs;
Magdalena Mejillano, Vice President, PPD cGMP Laboratory Services;
Elizabeth Kuronen, Vice President, Strategic Communications & Marketing.
Patti McNamara, Executive Director,
PPD's decision to locate this world class operation here is of great significance to this region and to Ireland as a whole. The creation of 250 high value-added jobs will make a substantial contribution to the regional economy and PPD is a most welcome addition to the Midlands Life Sciences cluster and to Ireland's scientific and life sciences industry base.
PPD has applied to the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) for manufacturer licences to support both investigational medicinal products and marketed products and laboratory certifications for quality control of medicinal products. As of today, PPD's licence applications have been assessed, and the quality system and premises inspected by the IMB. The progression of PPD's applications is under active consideration by the Board.
This project is fully in line with IDA Ireland's and the Government's policy of attracting the highest quality investment from the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors to Ireland. It is a strategic win for Ireland and is in keeping with our plans to build the Smart Economy. I would like to take the opportunity today to acknowledge the excellent work being done by Barry O'Leary and his team at IDA Ireland, winning cutting edge investment for this region and country against intense global competition.
Today marks another important milestone in our ambitions to build an economy based on innovation and knowledge.
The Irish economy is going through an extremely difficult adjustment. We took difficult decisions last year, and more will be required in the period ahead.
However, the Government is determined to ensure that we use this crisis to restructure the economy and target the sectors which can drive job creation in the future.
Ireland has particular opportunity in the area of the life sciences: we have a very strong base of multinational companies located here, as well as growing number of Irish SMEs and start-ups.
In the past few years, we have invested to build up the base of knowledge and research in our Higher Education System, while we are implementing a Strategy for Health Research which will build on the quality of Ireland's health system.
Our attention must now focus on the links between each element of the system - and ensuring that all our efforts are focused around the goal of creating goods and services which can be sold on world markets.
Once again, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish PPD Inc every success with this new facility and to thank all those involved for their continued commitment to Ireland. We really do appreciate it.
On behalf of my Government, IDA Ireland and the local community, I wish to assure PPD of our fullest support. I would also like to wish all of the team here in Athlone the very best for the future. We are delighted to welcome PPD to the Midlands and we look forward to the growth and development of PPD's Irish operation and a long and mutually beneficial relationship between PPD and this region.
Thank you.
ENDS.