Minister O’Keeffe announces 100 jobs in life science firm in Cork

9 July, 2010

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe TD, today [Friday] announced that one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical firms is to create 100 new finance jobs in Cork over the next 12 months.

Eli Lilly, which has been manufacturing pharmaceutical products in Kinsale since 1981, is to begin recruiting immediately for the new positions in a European financial services centre in Cork city.

Most of the new jobs will be filled by next Spring.

The new European financial services centre will support Eli Lilly’s European operations, providing general accounting, order-to-cash and purchase-to-pay activities.

Eli Lilly is among eight of the world’s top 10 pharmaceutical firms based in Ireland.

Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, the firm employs almost 40,000 workers worldwide.

Minister O’Keeffe said he was delighted to announce the high-quality jobs in Cork.

‘The Government has worked closely with Eli Lilly to secure this investment in Cork and the firm’s decision to invest in the county attests strongly to the academic calibre of the local labour pool and the quality of our higher education institutions.

‘Eli Lilly is a firm known the world over for high standards of quality and innovation in pharmaceutical products.

‘We have shown again to the world that we can attract strategic investments from leading multinationals by providing the right mix of skills, workforce flexibility and pro-business policies to support business expansion plans and create jobs for our people.

‘The Cork team deserves high praise for attracting this new investment for Ireland.’

Speaking on behalf of Eli Lilly, Kay Flynn, Senior Finance Director, European Shared Services, said: ‘The decision to locate this important operation in Cork was based on our track record here, the availability of a skilled workforce, language ability and the presence of a strong shared services base here in Ireland.

‘We look forward to continuing our success in Ireland with this new venture.

‘We recognise and appreciate the continued support and partnership of IDA Ireland as we extend Lilly’s footprint in Ireland.’

The investment was won in conjunction with IDA Ireland.

The chief executive of IDA Ireland, Barry O’Leary, said: ‘This investment is strategically important to Ireland and Eli Lilly and it is a welcome addition to the growing number of leading pharmaceutical companies that have recognised the benefits of locating financial shared services centres here.

‘Today's announcement by the company fits neatly with IDA Ireland's Horizon 2020 strategy - IDA Ireland places a strong focus on winning services-based investment and assisting companies to win new international mandates for Ireland, strengthening their strategic importance to their parent company.’

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About Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organisations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, US, Lilly provides answers - through medicines and information - for some of the world’s most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Eli Lilly and company is available at www.lilly.com

About Eli Lilly in Ireland

Eli Lilly S.A. - Irish Branch, based in Dunderrow, Kinsale, Co. Cork, is Eli Lilly’s leading Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient plant worldwide. The Kinsale operation, which employs over 470 workers, is a centre of excellence for small molecule manufacturing for a number of Eli Lilly's most important drugs including the world’s seventh highest-selling drug, Zyprexa. To date, over €800 million has been invested in the Kinsale Small Molecule facility which has been manufacturing on the site since 1981. The products from Kinsale are shipped to finishing plants around the world where they are converted to final dosage forms such as tablets, capsules or injectibles.

In 2006, Lilly established its first research and development group in Kinsale, a permanent small molecule development centre.

That year, Eli Lilly decided to locate a bio-tech development and manufacturing facility in Kinsale with a further investment of about €300 million. This project will place Kinsale at the centre of Eli Lilly’s (mAb) biotech strategy. Construction is now completed and the facility is on course to manufacture product by 2012. Several Irish engineers and scientists have been based in Indianapolis to familiarise themselves with the new technology and processes.

Eli Lilly and Company (Ireland) Ltd,based in Dublin, is responsible for the marketing and sales of Eli Lilly's products to the Irish market employing 54 people.

Elanco Animal Health, Eli Lilly’s animal health division, recently acquired a biological manufacturing facility in Sligo used in the production of animal vaccines.

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