A group of former Elan employees has set up a new research laboratory in Co Westmeath with the help of a €400,000 investment from Enterprise Ireland.
BioClin Research Laboratories Ltd plans to more than double its workforce from 11 to 30 over the next three years at its base in Athlone. According to managing director Ms Mary Burke the company wants to be the "preferred R&D partner for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in Ireland".
She said BioClin was currently Ireland's largest certified Good Laboratory Practice, US FDA-audited independent, contract bioanalytical laboratory.
Today's announcement was welcomed by the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, who said the venture had a high-growth potential with a well-established client base in Ireland and overseas.
The company is situated in a purpose-built laboratory with state-of-the-art analytical equipment in the areas of mass spectrometry, chromatography and immuno chemistry.
BioClin hopes to provide a range of research and development services for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, veterinary and neutraceutical industries.