Timeline: Pfizer's history in Ireland

1969 – Pfizer is one of the earliest pharmaceuticals companies to invest in Ireland, opening a food chemicals plant in Ringaskiddy…

1969– Pfizer is one of the earliest pharmaceuticals companies to invest in Ireland, opening a food chemicals plant in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork.

1974– Wyeth opens first Irish operation in Askeaton in Limerick. The nutritional plant becomes one of the leading producers in Europe of infant and child nutritional products, including powdered milk.

1990– Wyeth opens Fort Dodge Labs animal health business in Sligo producing veterinary vaccines.

1991– Pfizer establishes treasury operation in Ringsend to provide in-house banking and treasury operations to the company's international businesses.

READ MORE

1992– Wyeth opens solid dose plant in Newbridge, Co Kildare.

2000– Pfizer opens Loughbeg drug product unit in Co Cork, producing tablets that are packaged abroad.

2000– Pfizer acquires Warner Lambert in an $89bn deal, still the largest pharma sector takeover, trumping American Home Products in the process. Deal brings Little Island and Dún Laoghaire plants, which Warner Lambert had acquired in a 1997 transaction with Plaistow, into Pfizer fold.

2005– Wyeth officially opens Grange Castle biopharmaceuticals plant. The state-of-the-art centre will employ 1,300 people. The €1.8bn investment makes Wyeth the largest single investor in the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland.

2009– Pfizer opens biotechnology plant in Shanbally, Co Cork, involved largely in the clinical trials stage of development.

Jan 2009– Pfizer announces $68bn bid for Wyeth, saying that it will achieve cost savings through 15 per cent cut in staff numbers.

July 2009– European Union antitrust authorities approve Pfizer takeover of Wyeth on grounds it will divest animal health manufacturing business.

Oct 2009– Pfizer completes acquisition of Wyeth.

March 2010– Wyeth agrees sales of Fort Dodge animal health business in Sligo to Eli Lilly animal health division Elanco. Final EU approval expected May/June 2010.

May 2010– Pfizer announces 785 job losses in its Irish operations with two plants in Cork and one in Dún Laoghaire closing and Newbridge losing 275 of its 1,050 staff. Jobs will go between the end of this year and 2014.

Dominic Coyle

Dominic Coyle

Dominic Coyle is Deputy Business Editor of The Irish Times