Ireland is one of the leading locations for the pharmaceutical industry in Europe. The pharmaceutical industry in Ireland comprises a mix of international and local companies. One hundred and twenty overseas companies have plants in Ireland including 14 of the 15 largest pharmaceutical companies in the world.
The pharmaceutical industry is relatively new to the Irish economy. Most of the companies operating in this area have had a presence in Ireland since the 1960s. Originally the industry was largely involved in producing active ingredients in bulk for export to other countries to be processed into finished products Subsequently, plants were set up to produce the finished products here. In recent years a number of companies have also set up research centres and have become involved in joint research projects with Irish universities.
The pharmaceutical industry in Ireland is highly advanced, incorporating the latest technology, state of the art equipment and strict quality control procedures. Ireland’s pharmaceutical industry offers a wide range of products and services, from research and development for new medicines to the manufacturing and marketing of new medicines for humans and animals.