Computer-generated image of what the planned facility at Gilead will look like.

Green light for Gilead expansion

Planning permission for an expansion worth €45 million has been granted for a biopharmaceutical company in Carrigtwohill.

Gilead Sciences recently confirmed the planning adding that construction for the new facility is expected to start in April and take 19 months.

The company said the development would ensure its Cork manufacturing base continues to play a central master distributor role in the company's supply chain and its plans to achieve carbon neutrality in worldwide operations.

David Cadogan, Vice President of Manufacturing Operations at Gilead Sciences, said: “This investment reinforces Gilead’s commitment to Ireland and will significantly expand storage capacity in Carrigtwohill, which is currently responsible for 30% of all of Gilead’s solid oral drug production. This is an exciting time for Gilead globally, and this development will facilitate additional future investment in our manufacturing and packaging capabilities in Ireland as we look to support an expanded Gilead product portfolio in the years ahead.”

The new 5,176 sq. m warehouse is, Gilead has said, designed to the highest sustainability standards and has a target of being a net zero emissions building with an LEED Gold Rating.

As part of this, it will be fitted with 764 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels delivering 340KW of energy to enable the site expansion without an increase in carbon emissions. When combined with existing onsite PV solar panels (1,489 activated in spring 2022), solar energy is expected to provide approximately 10% of the total energy needed to power the Carrigtwohill facility.

“We take our commitment to environmental sustainability seriously. In addition to our expansion in Cork, our new Paediatric Centre of Excellence in Dublin’s North Dock was the city’s first commercial office to achieve ‘near zero energy building’ status. By constructing buildings to the highest standards, producing clean energy on-site and achieving emissions savings across-the-board, we can continue to play an important role in rising to the challenge of combating climate change,” added Mr Cadogan.