Mary O'Rourke TD has official opened the new, extended state-of-the-art pharmaceutical laboratory facility for Intertek BioClin at Monksland in Athlone.

Intertek, a global company listed on the London Stock Exchange, is a leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries around the world.

Intertek acquired the BioClin Research Laboratories in February this year from its Irish-owners.

It has extended and enhanced the facilities, which continue to be locally run and managed, to increase the businesses ability to support the Irish and international pharmaceutical industry.

Ireland is a key European centre for pharmaceutical manufacturing, and increasingly R&D, with many of the world's top-selling drugs being produced in Ireland.

-- Advertisement --

Mary O'Rourke said: "Intertek's investment in BioClin and this new, larger purpose-designed facility is excellent news for Athlone and the surrounding region. Intertek's investment is a superb endorsement of the calibre of the services that Irish people and companies can provide to international business."

At 9,500 sq ft it is around 40% larger than the original 6,000 sq ft facility operated in Athlone for the past five years. It employs 20 people, 95% of whom are science graduates or post graduates.

Wolfhart Hauser, Intertek's CEO, said: "As Intertek's first significant laboratory in Ireland, we are pleased to bring the reach of our global network of quality and safety services and laboratories to Irish business looking to trade globally and support business growth in Athlone and greater Ireland."

Dr. John Conti-Ramsden, Global Director of Intertek's Pharmaceutical Services, said: "This expansion consolidates and enhances the level of services we can provide to the pharmaceutical R&D industry not just in Ireland, but now also overseas through Intertek's reach."

(PR/JM)