Astellas invest €129 million in its Kerry and Irish operations

Irish Independent

3 days ago

Astellas is currently building a new €330 million facility in Tralee and has an existing facility in Killorglin.
It is one of Japan's largest life sciences companies and a leading developer and manufacturer of pharmaceutical products globally.
Minister Foley welcomed the investment in its Irish operations in Kerry and Dublin over the next three year.
Astellas is starting the process of building a new drug product fill facility in Tralee, creating 120 new jobs. Additionally, more than 500 workers will be involved in the construction phase.
The new facility will accelerate the expansion of Astellas' in-house production capabilities and ensure a stable supply of high-quality medicines to patients around the world. The facility will also be fully digitally enabled and will adhere to high energy and environmental standards.
'I'm really pleased to welcome this multi-million euro investment by Astellas, supported by the Government through IDA Ireland,' Minister Foley said.
'This is a real boost of confidence, in addition to the €330 million invested for a state-of-the-art facility in Tralee and the fantastic existing facility in Killorglin. It is a great, positive story for all involved. Thank you to Astellas for their unstinting commitment to Kerry,' she added.
Astellas say it will undertake a comprehensive plan to equip employees in Tralee with skills to address strategic challenges, focusing on leadership development, digital literacy, environmental sustainability, innovation, and compliance.
The company will set up a research and development project in Tralee to enhance the production of antibody-drug conjugates and monoclonal antibodies, aiming to establish a high-efficiency, low-waste, multi-product biologics facility.
Moreover, Astellas will have a Green Capital project in Tralee to reduce energy use and lower CO₂ emissions. The planned upgrades include heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, a woodchip boiler, solar panels, and an on-site wastewater treatment plant.
Astellas Killorglin will implement several initiatives to significantly reduce energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. These measures include wind turbines, woodchip boiler economisers, chiller upgrades, BioLPF/HVO tanks, water heat pumps, and energy metering systems.
Speaking from Tokyo, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, who met with members of the Astellas senior leadership team, stated that the announcement by Astellas highlights Ireland's role in the global life sciences sector.
'Our ongoing investment in education, infrastructure, and innovation continues to create the optimum environment for companies to thrive. Astellas' decision to grow its footprint in both Kerry and Dublin highlights the strength of Ireland's offering and our commitment to supporting enterprise development across all regions,' he said.