Too early to say if €400m investment will result in more permanent jobs for the county
Novo Nordisk's Monksland facility.
Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk said it is too early to say whether its massive €432 million investment will result in additional permanent jobs for the county.
On Monday, the Danish company announced the multi-million boost for its facility in Monksland. This tabletting facility will provide significant additional manufacturing capacity for current and future Novo Nordisk GLP-1 medications, used in the treatment of diabetes and weight management.
“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,” the company said. “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.” It is reported that the Wegovy weight loss pill will be manufactured at the South Roscommon facility for markets outside the United States.
When asked by this paper, a spokesperson said that the construction works to be carried out will result in the hiring of up to 600 construction jobs.
“The investment will secure the current employee base of approximately 260 employees to manufacture current and future oral GLP-1 presentations,” she said. “However, it is too soon to confirm definitively what these potential opportunities or future expansions may mean for potential growth of the Athlone Site.” The entire project at the site, covering 45 acres, and the construction projects, which have already begun, will be finalised gradually from the end of 2027 through 2028.
In September last year, Novo announced plans to cut 75 of the 400 jobs at the Monksland plant as part of a 9,000 reduction in headcount worldwide.
