Mylan to create 500 jobs in Ireland with €76m investment

US generics company Mylan is investing €76m to expand its operations in Ireland in a move that will create 500 new pharma jobs.

With support from the government-funded Irish Development Authority (IDA), Mylan will expand its R&D capabilities in the country as well its manufacturing capabilities in the company's respiratory, injectables and oral solids franchises over the next five years.

It is expected that by 2016, about 220 jobs will be created in Galway, while 280 will be generated at the Mylan's facilities in Dublin. The company currently employs about 700 people in Ireland.

The announcement comes two months after the Irish government launched its Action Plan for Jobs – a wide-ranging plan aimed at rebuilding the country's economy and creating over 100,000 new jobs by 2016.

The country's minister for jobs, enterprise and innovation Richard Bruton praised Mylan's investment and said that expanding Ireland's life sciences industry was a key part of the government's plan.

He said: “Employing approximately 50,000 people here directly, the sector is a major strength in Ireland, but we must build on this.

“[The] announcement that Mylan, already a very important part of this sector, is expanding with the creation of over 500 jobs is a massive boost for the country.”

Mylan's CEO Heather Bresch spoke of the company's commitment to the country, which has been one of the main European casualties of the economic downturn.

She said: “Ireland ... has proven to be a valuable location for Mylan, providing the company with access to a skilled and highly educated workforce that shares our strong work ethic and commitment to excellence.”

Other pharma companies to invest in Ireland as part of the Action Plan for Jobs include Eli Lilly & Company, which said it would put €330m into expanding its commercialisation and manufacturing facilities in Cork.