International pharma group Sanofi has announced it will invest €44 million in Genzyme’s biotechnology campus in Waterford.

The investment will see allow the plant diversify its output, adding a filling plant for the company’s leading insulin brand Lantus.

Genzyme was taken over by French-based multinational Sanofi two years ago and Sanofi has decided to make Waterford its second manufacturing hub, along with Frankfurt, for Lantus.

The company said yesterday that, subject to regulatory approvals, commercial production of Lantus at Waterford should commence in 2016.

The investment, which is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through IDA Ireland, will see up to 100 jobs created during the construction phase.