Novo Nordisk announces more than €400 million investment for its Roscommon facility 

Novo Nordisk has today announced an investment of €432 million euro (in its facility in Monksland, Athlone, Ireland. This tabletting facility will provide significant additional manufacturing capacity for current and future Novo Nordisk GLP-1 treatments.

The investment is a major strategic milestone for the company, which further reinforces Novo Nordisk’s long-term commitment to Ireland and global healthcare innovation. It provides Novo Nordisk with additional manufacturing capabilities for oral products, enhances supply, and allows Ireland to serve as a critical hub for servicing markets outside the US. The investment will support the upgrade and retrofit of the existing facility, as well as enhancing Novo Nordisk’s capacity to manufacture oral GLP-1s.

Speaking at the announcement in Athlone, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke said: “Today’s investment announcement is a vote of confidence in Athlone, the Midlands and the skilled workforce we have worked hard to develop. It will help drive innovation, create highly skilled jobs and further strengthen Ireland’s pharmaceutical ecosystem. Ireland hosts 9 of the top 10 global pharma companies, producing a significant portion of the world's most innovative drugs, solidifying our country’s role as a central hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing. I commend Novo Nordisk on this milestone investment, which underpins Ireland’s robust competitiveness in the life sciences sector and is a testimony to the role the Midlands plays in pharma innovation in Ireland.” 

“With the investment in the Athlone facility, Novo Nordisk is expanding its production capacities for oral products, which will enable us to meet both current and future global demand outside the US,” added Kasper Bodker Mejlvang, EVP CMC and Product Supply, Novo Nordisk. “This investment, a historic milestone for Novo Nordisk in Ireland, marks our continued commitment to Athlone, Ireland and our highly skilled employees while allowing us to make a difference for millions of people living with serious chronic diseases.” 

Michael Lohan, CEO, IDA concluded by saying: "This significant investment by Novo Nordisk demonstrates the strength of Ireland’s value proposition as location for innovation and underlines the importance of regional balance in driving sustainable economic growth. Athlone continues to prove its ability to attract large scale, high-value manufacturing projects, supported by a skilled workforce and collaborative ecosystem. This expansion reinforces Athlone as a vital contributor to Ireland’s life sciences sector and our long-term regional development ambitions.’’ 

The plant’s existing 260 employees will focus on delivering the highest-quality oral treatments to patients, in an efficient and environmentally sustainable way. The entire project at the site, covering 45 acres (18 hectares), will create up to 600 construction jobs. The construction projects, which have already begun, will be finalised gradually from the end of 2027 through 2028.

Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 68,800 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit novonordisk.com, Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Tom Quinn, Vice President and Site GM, Novo Nordisk Production Ireland, Athlone stated: “At Novo Nordisk, our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases. Our Athlone facility will play a key role in this mission by providing Novo Nordisk with additional manufacturing capacity for both current and future products, supported by deep expertise and capabilities in oral drug manufacturing. This investment strengthens our ability to serve even more patients and reflects Novo Nordisk’s long-term commitment to the growth and sustainability of the Athlone facility. It is a clear endorsement of our people, our capabilities, and our impact on improving health outcomes and transforming patients’ lives.” 

Dilek Dogan Gurluk, General Manager, Novo Nordisk Ireland added: “As the global leader in obesity and diabetes care, Novo Nordisk delivers life-changing treatments for patients worldwide and the Athlone manufacturing facility, will be a key strategic part of our plan to expand access to reach more patients. Ireland faces a significant public health challenge. Over the past 30 years, rates of overweight and obesity have risen sharply across all age groups, social classes, and genders. Today, Ireland ranks among the highest in Europe, with 60% of adults and more than 20% of children living with overweight or obesity. These trends are shaped by the environments in which we live, work and age, and they demand a comprehensive model of care for patient treatment.”