Novo Nordisk today announced an investment of 432 million euro (approx.  DKK 3.2 billion) in its facility in Monksland, Athlone. This tabletting facility will provide significant additional manufacturing capacity for current and future Novo Nordisk GLP-1 treatments. 
  
The investment is a major strategic milestone for the company, which further reinforces Novo Nordisk’s long-term commitment to Ireland and global healthcare innovation. It provides Novo Nordisk with additional manufacturing capabilities for oral products, enhances supply, and allows Ireland to serve as a critical hub for servicing markets outside the US.  The investment will support the upgrade and retrofit of the existing facility, as well as enhancing Novo Nordisk’s capacity to manufacture oral GLP-1s. 

The Irish Midlands as a hub for pharma innovation

 Speaking at the announcement in Athlone, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke said: “Today’s investment announcement is a vote of confidence in Athlone, the Midlands and the skilled workforce we have worked hard to develop. It will help drive innovation, create highly skilled jobs and further strengthen Ireland’s pharmaceutical ecosystem. Ireland hosts 9 of the top 10 global pharma companies, producing a significant portion of the world’s most innovative drugs, solidifying our country’s role as a central hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing.  I commend Novo Nordisk on this milestone investment, which underpins Ireland’s robust competitiveness in the life sciences sector and is a testimony to the role the Midlands plays in pharma innovation in Ireland.”
  
“With the investment in the Athlone facility, Novo Nordisk is expanding its production capacities for oral products, which will enable us to meet both current and future global demand outside the US,” added Kasper Bodker Mejlvang, EVP CMC and Product Supply, Novo Nordisk. “This investment, a historic milestone for Novo Nordisk in Ireland, marks our continued commitment to Athlone, Ireland and our highly skilled employees while allowing us to make a difference for millions of people living with serious chronic diseases.”  

Supported by a skilled Midlands workforce and collaborative ecosystem

 
Michael Lohan, CEO, IDA IRELAND concluded by saying: ‘’This significant investment by Novo Nordisk demonstrates the strength of Ireland’s value proposition as location for innovation and underlines the importance of regional balance in driving sustainable economic growth. Athlone continues to prove its ability to attract large scale, high-value manufacturing projects, supported by a skilled workforce and collaborative ecosystem. This expansion reinforces Athlone as a vital contributor to Ireland’s life sciences sector and our long-term regional development ambitions.’’
 
The plant’s existing 260 employees will focus on delivering the highest-quality oral treatments to patients, in an efficient and environmentally sustainable way. The entire project at the site, covering 45 acres (18 hectares), will create up to 600 construction jobs. The construction projects, which have already begun, will be finalised gradually from the end of 2027 through 2028.  

About Novo Nordisk

  
Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Their purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases built upon our heritage in diabetes. They do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 68,800 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit novonordisk.com, Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and YouTube.