Pfizer will produce its COVID-19 vaccine from its Grange Castle facility in Dublin, as part of a $40 million investment.
The firm’s partnership with BioNTech saw Pfizer become the first company to bring a messenger RNA-based product to market, namely the COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty (BNT162b2).
Pfizer’s CEO Albert Bourla told shareholders at its annual meeting in April that it is comfortable the firm will produce 3 billion doses of the vaccine in 2021 and will further invest in its manufacturing network to support continued global demand.
Image: iStock/Bigandt_Photography
Part of its further investment in its manufacturing network is being plugged into Ireland where Pfizer will devote up to $40 million at its Grange Castle, Dublin facility to produce the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Pfizer is now bringing on additional European-based facilities to be a part of the global Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine supply chain network and Grange Castle (Ireland) will contribute to the worldwide supply of the vaccine,†a spokeswoman for Pfizer told BioProcess Insider.
She added: “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 the facility will be brought onto the network by the end of 2021.â€
According to the company, it will recruit approximately 75 members of staff to join its 1,700 employees at the plant.
“This is a very significant moment for Ireland and for our Grange Castle site. We are immensely proud to be able to play a part in manufacturing Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine,†said Paul Duffy, vice president, Pfizer Global Supply.
Duffy continued: “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.â€