Merck Sharpe and Dohme opens new Tipperary site

Merck Sharpe and Dohme has officially opened a new pharmaceutical research and development centre in Ballydine, County Tipperary this week.

The new site has been created using a 100 million euro (87.4 million pounds) investment and is an expansion of the company's existing Ballydine facility, with work having commenced in 2007.

A total of 70 highly skilled jobs have been created as a result of this opening, a number that could increase to 120 as medicine development efforts progress, while plans are already in place to expand the new site further.

Currently, six innovative medicines are in development at the centre, including new therapies for high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and hepatitis C.

Willie Deese, executive vice-president of Merck Sharpe and Dohme and president of the manufacturing division, said the decision to invest in the area was down to the "credibility, track record and expertise of the Ballydine team, the technology and infrastructure at the site and the support we have received from the Irish government and IDA Ireland".

Earlier this month, the firm announced a new collaboration with the genomics centre BGI, focusing on the development of biomarkers and gene technologies.