Novo Nordisk seeks planning permission in Ireland to up GLP-1 production
According to a planning application reviewed by the Sunday Times, Novo Nordisk wants to build a 1.6 million square-foot manufacturing site in Grange Castle, Ireland.
A spokesperson for the Danish drugmaker confirmed to BioProcess Insider it acquired land at Grange Castle Business Park and has submitted a planning application. However, no further details or specifics were disclosed.
“Novo Nordisk is looking into expanding its manufacturing capacity in Europe, and Ireland is one of the locations we are considering. We have acquired land at Grange Castle Business Park, [Clondalkin] and have submitted a planning application.”
The firm purchased 85 acres of land from South Dublin County Council in June 2023 and local news outlet Dublin Gazette reported Novo Nordisk would use the space to construct a plant for diabetes, rare diseases, and obesity products.
While the company has remained quiet on what the planning permission entails, the Sunday Times reported the firm is preparing to use this land to increase capacity for its glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) products, which includes weight-loss blockbuster Wegovy and diabetes drug Ozempic.
If planning permission is authorized, the publication said the site will cost over €2 billion ($2.2 billion) and create 1,100 jobs in Ireland. Additionally, the facility is anticipated to be fully operational by 2026.
The company has invested heavily to meet the demand for both Wegovy and Ozempic. This news follows Novo Nordisk’s decision to buy Irish firm Alkermes’ facility in Athlone, County Westmeath for $92.5 million in December 2023.
In November 2023, the firm announced the investment of over 42 billion Danish kroner ($6 billion) to expand its manufacturing facilities in Kalundborg, Denmark. Most of the funding will go towards increasing active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) capabilities and the facility has been designed to meet current and future process demands with capacity for its GLP-1 products.
In the same month, Novo Nordisk pledged another $2.35 billion at its Chartres, France site to support its pipeline, including its diabetes and obesity products.
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