Pfizer Grange Castle to be part of global vaccine supply chain network

Pharmaceutical manufacturer Pfizer is set to begin using its Dublin facility as part of its supply chain for its Covid-19 vaccine.

In an announcement made this morning the company confirmed it will begin making a component of the vaccine at its Grange Castle site by the end of the year.

This will be an mRNA substance to aid the manufacture outside of Ireland.

The move will involve a $40m investment by Pfizer in its Dublin site and 75 new jobs.

In a statement the company said:

“Since Pfizer and BioNTech started distributing their Covid-19 vaccine in December 2020 the companies have made several enhancements to the vaccine’s supply chain.

“These enhancements include expanding their existing facilities, adding more suppliers, and bringing on additional Pfizer/BioNTech sites and contract manufacturers around the world to produce the vaccine.”

“Pfizer’s Grange Castle facility will produce mRNA drug substance. Given the extensive technical transfer process, on-site development, equipment installation and regulatory approvals needed for the sites, we expect both facilities will be brought onto the network by the end of 2021.”

“This is a very significant moment for Ireland and for our Grange Castle site,” said Dr. Paul Duffy, VP, Pfizer Global Supply.

“We are immensely proud to be able to play a part in manufacturing Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.

“Since last year, Pfizer in partnership with BioNTech has worked tirelessly to expedite the development, approval and scale-up of our COVID-19 vaccine.

“The company has continually expanded manufacturing capability and external partnerships to deliver increased doses to the world to help defeat this devastating pandemic.”