Why Ireland for Eirgen

This latest investment reflects our long-term commitment to the region. By upgrading our facilities and expanding our capabilities, we are ensuring that Waterford continues to be a global leader in pharmaceutical innovation.

Damien Burke

CEO, Eirgen Pharma

Eirgen Pharma

Eirgen Pharma develops and supplies high-potency specialty care medicines to patients in more than fifty countries worldwide. Since 2015, it has been part of OPKO Health, a biopharmaceutical and diagnostics organisation advancing therapeutic products and diagnostic technologies to address significant diseases, headquartered in Miami, Florida.

Eirgen’s start in Ireland

The company was founded in 2005 in Waterford in the Southeast of Ireland, with an early focus on the development and manufacture of high-potency pharmaceutical ingredients, including cancer chemotherapy drugs. As the organisation grew, it began exploring new technologies that could further enhance patient outcomes. In 2012, this curiosity led Eirgen to investigate softgel development: a dosage form known for its versatility and patient-friendly profile. At the time, however, internal priorities and source constraints meant it could not progress the opportunity in a commercially viable way. Rather than pursuing a fragmented effort, Eirgen chose to pause and focus on strengthening its core business. 

Following Eirgen’s $135 million acquisition by OPKO and the subsequent sale of its sterile fill finish capability to Horizon Therapeutics in 2021, the organisation made a strategic decision to revisit softgel technology. This was now a significant market opportunity due to the gap for softgel production capacity in Europe at a time when global supply chains were stretched and demand for patient-friendly formulations was rising.

Continued investment in innovation 

OPKO Health committed to investing €21 million to strengthen and expand Eirgen’s core oral solid dose capabilities, supporting both R&D and commercial supply to global markets from Waterford City. With the support of IDA Ireland, Eirgen revisited softgel development, drawing on early learnings and rebuilding capability to transform into a platform for growth. Today, Eirgen stands as the only softgel producer in Ireland and one of only a small number within Europe.  

In 2022, the company acquired a new building in the IDA Industrial Estate in Waterford, adding a further 3,500m2 of state-of-the-art manufacturing and packaging capabilities for its global customer base. Since then, Eirgen has signed 11 deals for its softgel technology, with volumes of 10.7 million units. Globally, the softgel capsules market is forecast to show compound annual growth of 5.9% by 2034. 

Alongside its infrastructure and technology expansion, Eirgen Pharma has continued to invest in building people capability, supported by €2 million in IDA Ireland funding through 2025 and a further €3 million committed from 2025/26 onwards to develop the skills that underpin long-term innovation and growth.

How Ireland helps Eirgen

• Founded in 2005, Irish pharma company is acquired by US firm in 2015
• €21 million investment from parent company funds product development 
• IDA Ireland played a key role via upskilling support and new building facility
• Eirgen is the only Irish-based manufacturer of softgel for medicine delivery