Astrazeneca has said it will build a plant in Ireland instead of the UK after a spat with ministers.
The Cambridge pharmaceuticals giant confirmed the £263million facility will be set up near Dublin, rather than in Macclesfield.
Its announcement yesterday came after Mail revealed the decision. Astra said this would ‘ensure the company’s global supply network is fit for future growth’. Some 100 jobs will be created.
Pharma plant: Astrazeneca has confirmed it is to set up a £263m facility near Dublin, rather than in Macclesfield
Pascal Soriot, Astra’s boss, had been wooed by the Government into basing the plant in Macclesfield with £55million in subsidies.
But the UK’s decision to order booster vaccines from US rival Pfizer is said to have enraged Astra.
Soriot said: ‘I am delighted that we are bringing this very significant investment to Dublin which, with the support of the [Irish government], will create highly skilled jobs, nurture the country’s dynamic life sciences sector and allow for the development of high value-added medicines.’
Irish premier Micheal Martin, said: ‘In choosing Ireland as the location for its new next-generation active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing facility, Astrazeneca joins the very strong and successful network of global life sciences companies we have.’