Ireland has long been a global pharmaceutical powerhouse, hosting more than 90 pharmaceutical companies and employing around 50,000 people across the country.
The pharmaceutical sector holds major significance for the Irish economy. Exports of medical and pharmaceutical products surged to
€99.9 billion in 2024, accounting for about 45% of total good exports, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in February 2025.
Why Ireland is a global hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing
Ireland ranks as the world's third-largest exporter of pharmaceuticals, establishing itself as a
hotspot for global pharma companies. This success is driven by a combination of compelling factors: a favourable tax environment, a robust compliance record, a skilled English-speaking workforce, and world-class research and development capabilities.
Nine of the world's top 10 pharmaceutical companies have established significant operations in Ireland, drawn by the country's deep talent pool and strategic advantages. As one of the only English-speaking nation in the European Union, Ireland offers seamless access to the wider EU market, making it an ideal base for international operations.
Ireland's exemplary compliance record further strengthens its reputation. The country works closely with global regulatory bodies such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), through its own Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). Today, Ireland is home to
50 FDA-approved plants.
Since 2003, Ireland's competitive 12.5% corporate tax rate - well below the
global average of 23.51% - has also been a major draw for multinational investment. On top of this, Ireland has committed an
ambitious €165 billion into infrastructure projects by 2030 as part of its National Development Plan, which will see significant investment in public transport, housing, sustainability and education. These developments will set the foundation to further fuel economic growth and enhance Ireland's appeal as a hub for pharma innovation and foreign direct investment.
Top 10 pharmaceutical companies in Ireland
Pfizer
With a workforce of approximately 5,000 people across four sites,
Pfizer is one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in Ireland. Operating in Ireland since 1969, the US pharma giant has invested more than $10 billion in its operations here. Ireland remains a major manufacturing base for Pfizer, which exports to over 100 countries. Pfizer makes some of the best-known products and vaccines in the areas of arthritis, inflammation, cancer, haemophilia, pain and stroke.
Eli Lilly
US-based
Eli Lilly, which has been operating in Ireland since 1978, employs over 3,700 people across three sites – pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in Limerick and Kinsale, Co Cork, and global business solutions centre in Little Island, Cork – along with a commercial team nationwide. The firm is known for blockbuster diabetes and weight loss drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro. In 2024, Lilly expanded Irish footprint with an investment of $1.8 billion in Ireland to boost production of its popular obesity and diabetes drugs and a newly approved treatment for Alzheimer’s.
Johnson & Johnson
US healthcare giant
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has been operating in Ireland since 1935. It runs ten sites across five counties – Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Galway and Mayo. It has a large footprint in Ireland with a workforce of over 6,000 people. Its facility in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, manufactures critical immunology and oncology medicines, while its Little Island facility produces bulk active pharmaceutical ingredients for neuroscience and infectious disease therapies.
AbbVie
Headquartered in North Chicago, US biopharmaceutical firm
AbbVie has a significant presence in Ireland. It employs approximately 2,900 employees across six sites –Cork, Mayo, two facilities each in Dublin and Sligo. AbbVie, which spun off from Abbott Laboratories in 2013, is known for its flagship arthritis drug Humira and controls Botox, a hugely popular anti-wrinkle injection, following its acquisition of Allergan in 2020.
Novartis
Novartis’ presence in Ireland dates back to the 1950s. The Swiss-based pharma giant employs approximately 900 people in Dublin, primarily at its corporate centre in Elm Park. It focuses on neuroscience, cardiovascular, immunology, oncology, and cell and gene and radioligand therapies. The firm is known for manufacturing Entresto, a medication used to treat heart failure.
AstraZeneca
British-Swedish drugmaker
AstraZeneca employs over 100 people in Ireland and focuses on cardiovascular, oncology and respiratory drugs. Known for its cancer drugs and Covid vaccine, the company has invested $360 million to set up a next-generation active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing facility in north Dublin.
Merck
Drugmaker Merck, known as
MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been operating in Ireland for nearly 50 years. It employs more than 3,000 people across seven sites in Tipperary, Cork, Meath, Louth, Carlow, Dublin. It is best known for its blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda.
Amgen
Having established its Irish commercial operation in 1998, US drugmaker Amgen now employs 1,250 people across its three sites – two in Dublin and one in Waterford. The site in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, is Amgen’s largest manufacturing facility outside the United States.
Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences, based in California, is renowned for its blockbuster HIV prevention drugs Truvada and Descovy. The biopharmaceutical firm, which has been in Ireland for over two decades, has a workforce of over 500 people in the country. While its manufacturing facilities in Cork produce 22 different products, its Dublin distribution centre serves as a global distribution hub.
Sanofi
French pharmaceutical firm
Sanofi, which has been operating in Ireland for over 20 years, develops healthcare solutions within a range of therapeutic areas such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, thrombosis, type 2 inflammation and vaccines. Its Waterford facility, established in 2001, serves as a primary distribution centre for many of the firm's major treatments.
Small / emerging pharmaceutical companies in Ireland
Ireland’s dynamic pharmaceutical sector includes a growing number of innovative local firms, which contribute significantly to innovation, employment, and exports.
EirGen Pharma
Headquartered in Waterford,
EirGen Pharma develops and manufactures high-potency pharmaceuticals for human and animal health. It serves patients in more than 60 countries including major pharmaceutical markets in the US, Europe, Japan, Canada, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia.
Nuritas
Founded in 2014, Dublin-based biotech firm
Nuritas uses artificial intelligence to discover bioactive peptides, which are molecules in food and food by-products, that can be used by the life sciences sector to identify supplements and new drugs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the largest pharmaceutical company in Ireland?
In terms of workforce, Pfizer is the largest pharmaceutical company operating in Ireland with approximately 5,000 employees. While J&J’s operations span multiple divisions, including medical devices and consumer health, not just pharmaceuticals.
Why are so many pharmaceutical companies in Ireland?
There are so many reasons for pharmaceutical companies to be based in Ireland, including
skilled workforce, and strong regulatory compliance.
What pharmaceutical companies are in Dublin?
Pharmaceutical companies in Dublin include:
- Pfizer,
- AbbVie,
- Johnson & Johnson,
- Novartis,
- AstraZeneca,
- Merck,
- Amgen,
- Gilead Sciences
- Nuritas
