€7 million expansion by Rottapharm in Mulhuddart and an increase in employment of 35 people

The Irish operation is rated highly within the Rottapharm/Madaus Group. This investment will be a huge enhancement to the existing facility enabling the Irish operation to broaden its product portfolio and manufacture significantly larger volumes than at present. The availability of a suitable site in Mulhuddart for expansion, combined with the hugely positive experience of Rottapharm in Ireland, was instrumental in the company’s decision to locate the project there.
Luca Rovati, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Rottapharm/ Madaus Group

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan TD today (Tuesday 30 June 2009) announced a €7 million investment and an increase in employment of 35 people by Rottapharm Ltd. - Rottapharm/Madaus Group in Damastown Industrial Estate, Mulhuddart, Dublin, in a significant expansion of its Irish manufacturing operation. The new high level positions will bring employment at the site to 150 people.  The Tánaiste was on a visit to the Mulhuddart site to join with Rottapharm in its celebration of 10 years of successful operation in Ireland. IDA Ireland has worked closely with Rottapharm’s Irish management team to assist them in winning this investment and to ensure its rapid implementation.

The Tánaiste said “This investment is excellent news for the Mulhuddart site and is evidence of Rottapharm/Madaus Group’s strong commitment to the Irish operation and its acknowledgement of its success over ten years. A recent strategic review of all operations within the Rottapharm/Madaus Group resulted in the decision to make this investment at the Irish site. It is an excellent example of the viability of Ireland’s manufacturing sector and its future importance to the Irish economy. It also demonstrates that Ireland maintains its reputation as an attractive location in Europe for high quality overseas manufacturing investment at a time of difficult global economic circumstances.”

Rottapharm/Madaus Group discovers, develops and commercialises a range of products for the treatment of anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, bone metabolism, menopausal and gastro-intestinal disorders. To-date research activity has generated about 300 patents and 19 new drugs.

The Tánaiste added “This is an excellent example of the Government and IDA Ireland strategy for the growth and development of existing Irish manufacturing operations of overseas companies. It is extremely important in our view that companies have or put in place an agenda to constantly increase their strategic role within their parent company through the winning of further essential activities. These developments by Rottapharm demonstrate the execution of this agenda perfectly.”

Rottapharm’s Mulhuddart operation, established in 1999 with the support of IDA Ireland, primarily manufactures a range of capsule, sachet and tablet forms of the company’s leading product DONA® (the original glucosamines sulphate), which is the drug of first choice to be administered as early as possible in the treatment of osteoarthritis. It also manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for DONA® and Bromelaine tablets, an anti-inflammatory product. This significant capital investment will also enable the introduction of a wider portfolio of products at the Mulhuddart site and will create an additional 2,000m2 of space to house three additional manufacturing operations and associated packaging lines. The Irish operation also has group responsibility for some global logistics and regulatory affairs activities.

Luca Rovati, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Rottapharm/ Madaus Group, said “The Irish operation is rated highly within the Rottapharm/Madaus Group. This investment will be a huge enhancement to the existing facility enabling the Irish operation to broaden its product portfolio and manufacture significantly larger volumes than at present. The availability of a suitable site in Mulhuddart for expansion, combined with the hugely positive experience of Rottapharm in Ireland, was instrumental in the company’s decision to locate the project there.”

About Rottapharm/Madaus Group

Rottapharm|Madaus Group is an Italian multinational group headquartered in Monza, Italy. It employs more than 2,200 people worldwide and had revenues of €580m in 2008. It is active in about 85 countries worldwide and has a manufacturing site in Ireland, Italy, and India and two sites in Germany and Spain.  In Ireland, Rottapharm|Madaus Group also has a small treasury operation in the IFSC Dublin, which was established in 1995.

In 2007 Rottapharm bought 100% of the German pharmaceutical company Madaus Pharma,  which was the largest mergers and acquisition transaction ever completed by an Italian pharmaceutical company. The acquisition is enabling Rottapharm to combine its well-known brands such as DONA®, Ananase®, Epinitril®, Estromineral® and Saugella® & Babygella® with 12 new brands in other market segments including Agiolax®, Reparil®, Legalon® and Ben-U-Ron®. It will also strengthen the company’s presence in Germany, Spain and Portugal and enable it to enter new markets, such Belgium, Austria, South Africa and India. The acquisition of Madaus Pharma resulted in a strategic review of all operations within the renamed Rottapharm|Madaus Group and as a result, the decision was taken to increasing capacity at the Irish site through the €7 million investment.