Merck Sharp & Dohme announce additional €20m investment in Carlow

Merck Sharp & Dohme is delighted to deepen our roots further in Ireland. This €20m additional investment in Carlow will take our Biologics facility to the next level. Biologics is a central part of the future, both for us as a company and for public health around the globe.

Dr Michael Thien, Vice-President Science, Technology and Global Pharmaceutical Commercialisation, Merck Manufacturing Division

25/03/2009
IDA

160 further construction jobs to be created
Barry O’Leary, CEO of IDA Ireland, today (Tuesday 23rd March 2009) welcomed the following announcement of a further €20 million investment by the IDA-supported company - Merck Sharp & Dohme - at its new vaccines and biologics facility which is currently under construction in Carlow Town, with the support of IDA Ireland.

Merck Sharp & Dohme Biologics (Ireland) Ltd. has announced an additional €20million investment as part of the first phase of construction for the company’s new vaccines and biologics facility in Carlow. The additional investment brings to €220 million Merck Sharp & Dohme’s investment in Carlow, putting the facility at the forefront of global advancements in vaccines and biologics.

160 additional construction jobs will be created this year as a result of the investment, bringing the total employment figure in the construction phase in Carlow to 460 people. A further 170 people will be employed when the facility becomes operational in 2011.

Construction commenced on the €220 million state-of-the-art facility in October 2008 and was formally launched by An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen TD and Mr Willie Deese, Executive Vice President and President of Merck Manufacturing Division.

Announcing the investment on a visit to Carlow, Dr Michael Thien, Vice-President Science, Technology and Global Pharmaceutical Commercialisation, Merck Manufacturing Division, said that the additional investment is a further indication of Merck Sharp & Dohme’s long-term commitment to Ireland and Carlow.

He said: “Merck Sharp & Dohme is delighted to deepen our roots further in Ireland. This €20m additional investment in Carlow will take our Biologics facility to the next level. Biologics is a central part of the future, both for us as a company and for public health around the globe. In making this investment, we are demonstrating Merck Sharp & Dohme’s commitment to pioneering enhancements in biologics, vaccines and other products and in doing so, placing Ireland and Carlow at the forefront of our plans.”

Construction of the company’s biologics facility has progressed substantially in the last 6 months, providing many economic benefits locally and nationally in the process. Employment and contracting opportunities have been created for many, including local Carlow companies who are providing essential services and expertise on site.

Bryan Meehan, General Manager, Merck Sharp & Dohme Biologics (Ireland) Ltd in Carlow, said he was pleased with the progress of the new facility and commended the level of service and support received from the people and businesses in the locality.

Mr Meehan said: “We have assembled a great team here in Carlow who have worked tirelessly and shown great determination over the last number of months. We are working to a demanding schedule and I am pleased to say that we are on track. At what is a difficult time economically for many, Merck Sharp & Dohme is pleased to be making a positive contribution. We look forward, with the continued support we have received nationally and locally, to progressing further in the period ahead.”

The new facility, which is due for completion in 2011, will specialise in the formulation and filling of vaccines and biologics which help prevent and treat a variety of healthcare conditions.

Merck & Co. Inc.
Merck & Co., Inc. is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. Established in 1891, Merck currently discovers, develops, manufactures and markets vaccines and medicines to address unmet medical needs. The Company devotes extensive efforts to increase access to medicines through far-reaching programs that not only donate Merck medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them. Merck also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service. For more information, visit www.merck.com
Existing Merck operations in Ireland

Merck, Sharp & Dohme (Ireland) Ltd, established at Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, in 1976. Employing 360 people, it is a large-scale operation producing active pharmaceutical ingredients for use by Merck subsidiaries globally. In November 2006, an €85m investment for a 70,000 sq ft facility at the site was announced. It will manufacture final stage solid dosage (tablets & capsules) for global clinical trials; manufacture launch quantities of newly approved drugs; and will have a large R&D element.

Merck, Sharp & Dohme Ireland (Human Health) Limited was established in 2004 at South County Dublin Business Park, Leopardstown, to act as the corporate platform for a number of new activities by the Company in Ireland - clinical research, regulatory affairs and marketing. It employs over 100 people.

Merck Sharp & Dohme Biologics (Ireland) Limited was established in 2007 at Dublin Road, Carlow. The first stand-alone human vaccine project in Ireland, Carlow will specialise in the formulation and filling of vaccines which help prevent and treat a variety of healthcare conditions.
Further info:

Visit www.msd-ireland.com

Connie Wickersham, Director, Global Communications
Merck Manufacturing Division
+1 215-652-0960
+1 215-882-4739

Dan Pender, Pender Public Relations 01 – 6371777 / 087 – 2313415
Sarah Regan, Pender Public Relations 01 – 6371777 / 086 – 8963312