Construction of a new biopharmaceutical factory began today as part of a €400 million investment by Eli Lilly.

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin officiated at the foundation-laying ceremony of the new drug manufacturing facility at its premises in Dunderrow, Kinsale.

Eli Lilly, a global leader in biopharmaceuticals was established in Kinsale, Co Cork in 1981 and currently employs 430 people.

In December 2006, Minister Martin announced that Eli Lilly was to invest up to €400m in a multi phase program to establish a Biopharmaceuticals Development and Manufacturing facility in Kinsale. The investment, which was supported by IDA Ireland, will require up to 200 jobs in the next 5 years.

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The Minister laid the first stone on the foundation of the building, which will produce medicines to treat illnesses including cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.

In addition, laboratories, to support the technology transfer and future process development work, have already been commissioned and will be fully operational by the end of 2008.

Minister Martin said: "It is an exciting day for the staff and management of Eli Lilly in Kinsale to be laying the physical foundations for this new biopharmaceutical manufacturing building. I was delighted to make this announcement for the company in 2006 - and the fact that the Irish facility was chosen for such a strategic investment against strong global competition further strengthened our position as a leading location for major biopharmaceutical activity outside the US.

"Eli Lilly's Irish operation is poised to become the centre of excellence in Biopharmaceutical manufacturing technology for the company which will represent an increasing percentage of its medicines in the future."

(VB/JM)