Though the conversion into a biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility of the 400,000sq ft ex-Dell computer processing plant in Raheen, Limerick is not expected to be completed until 2016, there have been reports Regeneron has begun looking into a second plant nearby to support fill/finish.
However, Daniel Van Plew - Regeneron’s Senior VP and General Manager of Industrial Operations and Product Supply - told Biopharma-Reporter.com “there is no plan at this time for a second facility in Limerick.”
This contracts with an artivcle in Limerick Leader yesterday, which stated that Irish Minister for Finance Michael Noonan had revealed Regeneron’s plans for a second plant to delegates from the Limerick-Shannon Rotary Club.
“Speaking to them in New York, [Regeneron] told me that when it leaves the plant, it is effectively in 50-gallon plastic containers. Then it needs to go to another plant where they break it down into dosages,” Noonan was reported as saying.
“They are looking at a second plant in Raheen now to do that breaking down into individual dosages which doctors would administer. That would mean another 150 to 200 jobs as well.”
Whilst denying any such plans, Van Plew did acknowledge “the reception and business climate is so good in Limerick” and Regeneron is “naturally wondering what other parts of our growth strategy could be implemented here.”
Biopharma-Reporter.com was also told the $300m redevelopment of the ex-Dell plant– recently approved by the County Council – had begun and the firm would establish 300 permanent positions when the plant opens.
“We expect that the Limerick facility will be a strategically important base from which to extend our ability to supply European and worldwide markets,” Van Plew added.