Manufacturing boost for rare disease drugmaker

Horizon Therapeutics plc, which focuses on researching, developing and commercializing medicines for rare, autoimmune and severe inflammatory diseases, has reached an agreement to acquire a drug product manufacturing facility from EirGen Pharma, an OPKO Health company in Waterford, Ireland, that develops and provides high potency specialty care medicines to patients.

The 44,000 square-foot site, which is located in an IDA Ireland business park, includes a filling line and lyophiliser, or freeze dryer, that can be used for both Horizon’s commercial biologics and its development compounds.

Horizon will be working with Ireland’s Health Products Regulatory Agency (HPRA) and the FDA to obtain HPRA and FDA licensure for sterile fill-finish manufacturing. As part of the deal, about 40 EirGen employees will transfer to Horizon after the close of the transaction. This year and next, Horizon also intends to sign on 50 additional staff members for the site.