BioMarin, which is working to gain an FDA approval for its hemophilia A gene therapy Roctavian, unveiled a 38 million euro ( $42 million) expansion of its manufacturing facility near Cork, Ireland.
The project, which took about four years to complete, gives the San Francisco-based biotech new capabilities for manufacturing and packaging its therapies on a global scale, according to a recent press release posted by Ireland's Industrial Development Agency.
The biotech expects to hire for more than 40 new jobs at the plant in Shanbally as a result of the expansion. Additionally, BioMarin plans to invest about 30 million euros ($33 million) to expand its packaging operations there.
After opening its first Ireland site in 2012, BioMarin now employs more than 500 people in the country, according to IDA Ireland's release. Its two Ireland sites are in Shanbally and Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin.
In March, the company hit a bump in the road toward FDA approval for its gene therapy hemophilia drug Roctavian when the agency put a three-month hold on its decision.
The regulator said it needed more time to review BioMarin’s application. A decision by the FDA is now expected around June 30, the company said. The drug won an approval in Europe last summer.
Aside from its Roctavian launch, the company is also underway with its launch of achondroplasia drug Voxzogo. That med pulled down $169 billion in sales last year after its FDA approval in November 2021.
BioMarin has six other medicines besides the new launches and last year generated more than $2 billion worldwide.