By: Claire Wilson. Last Updated: March 2023

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Image: MSD

In this article, you’ll find…

Overview of MSD Worldwide

  • Worldwide sales 2022: $59.3 billion
  • Estimated R&D Spend 2022: $13.5 billion
  • Global Number of Employees 2022: 69,000

MSD was founded in 1891 and has grown to be the world’s seventh-largest pharmaceutical company. With headquarters in New Jersey, USA, they have operations in over 140 countries.  MSD produce a wide range of products including vaccines and prescription medications for diseases including diabetes, HIV, hepatitis C, oncology, and osteoporosis. Within the US and Canada the company is known as Merck & Co.

Ref: MSD

MSD in Ireland

MSD began production in Ireland in 1976.

They have so far invested over $4 billion in the country, developing six sites across five counties – Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Meath and Tipperary. Today, they employ approximately 2,800 in Ireland and export products made there to over 60 countries.

The company’s annual turnover makes them one of Ireland’s top 20 companies.

In 2022, MSD were announced as one of the “25 Best Places to Work in Ireland” by LinkedIn.

Their “See Green Be Green” programme saw MSD named Green Pharmaceutical Company 2022 at the Green Awards, and awarded the Environment award at the Sustainable Business Impact Awards 2022.

Overall rating by their employees 2023 (source):

Image of 4 gold stars

MSD in Carlow

  • Employees in Carlow: 530
  • Activities: Filling

MSD have operated a site in Carlow since 2008.

The Carlow facility performs filling of vaccines, biologics and small molecule drug products. It was the company’s first “stand-alone vaccine and biologics facility” outside the US.

In 2022, the company announced significant investment in their Carlow site to build a new manufacturing facility. The facility will focus on “production of next generation oncology biologics” and its introduction is expected to lead to 100 new jobs. Recruitment for those roles is already underway and production is expected to begin in 2025.

In November 2022, MSD Carlow was awarded “Best Large Facility” at the Pharma Awards.

MSD in Cork

  • Employees in Cork: 600
  • Activities: Biologics Development & Manufacturing

MSD’s Brinny site has been operational for over 35 years and is one of Cork’s largest employers.

With a history of development and production of biotech products, Brinny now specialises in the “development and manufacture of innovative novel vaccines and testing of immuno-oncology medicines”.

MSD Brinny was a finalist in the Corporate category for Cork Company of the Year 2020.

Click here to see our full county guide for Cork.

MSD in Dublin

  • Employees in Dublin: 300
  • Activities: Biologics manufacturing

MSD invested over $1bn to repurpose and expand their former Dublin site to create “MSD Biotech, Dublin”, which was officially opened in November 2022.

MSD Biotech, Dublin is focused on manufacturing biologics-based medicines (including immuno-oncology). In fact, it is the company’s first “Large-Scale Mammalian-Based Drug Substance Facility”.

Dublin is also home to “Red Oak North”, the commercial Head Office of MSD Animal Health and Human Health.

Click here for our full county guide for Dublin.

MSD in Meath

  • Employees in Meath: 300
  • Activities: Biologics manufacturing

MSD began operations in Dunboyne, Meath in September 2020. The site is the company’s first “Biologics Drug Substance single use commercialisation facility”. The combination of research and manufacturing teams within the site is expected to reduce the time it takes the company to get products to market.

Expansion capability was built in during development of the Meath site so the company already has the ability to increase production if business needs require it.

In 2021, MSD Dunboyne was highlighted by “Great Place to Work Ireland” as a “Best Medium Workplace” and a “Best Workplace for Women”.

MSD in Tipperary

  • Employees in Tipperary: 500
  • Activities: API manufacturing

MSD’s Ballydine, Tipperary site was established in 1976 and was the company’s first manufacturing site in Ireland.

The facilities here allow for development and manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished pharmaceutical products. The company describes the site as their “primary small molecule pipeline commercialisation facility globally” as well as “a European hub for quality, manufacturing, and engineering”. Products manufactured here are exported to 25 countries around the world (primarily throughout Europe, the USA and Japan).

In addition, the capability for formulation activities means that work on approximately 20 products in the MSD pipeline (i.e. currently in development) happens at the Ballydine site.

In 2022, MSD opened Ireland’s largest “self-generation solar project” at the site. The company is aiming to be carbon neutral by 2025 and this development means that approximately 20% of the Ballydine site’s power will come from renewable sources.

The Future of MSD in Ireland

MSD Ireland Human Health is one of Ireland’s leading healthcare companies and our vision is to be the number one, most valued and trusted healthcare company and employer in Ireland.
– MSD Ireland

MSD has invested over $4bn in establishing their current Irish operations. Several recent expansion plans are still ongoing and recruiting for the new roles.

Connect with MSD

How to Get a Job With MSD in Ireland

Firstly, be sure to follow:

If you already have experience in the pharma or medical device manufacturing industries, you can head straight over to our dedicated pharma jobs board and see the current MSD vacancies in Ireland.

If you have some science, quality, or engineering qualifications/work experience, check out our specialist conversion courses that bridge the gap between your current knowledge and the technical information required to work in this highly regulated industry:

For all other backgrounds (including sales, retail, hospitality, etc), check out our Conversion Course into Pharmaceutical Manufacturing. This course helps you take the transferable skills acquired in any other industry and combines them with essential technical knowledge and job-hunting skills, to make you an ideal candidate for entry-level pharma manufacturing jobs. (Note: NO science or engineering knowledge or experience is needed!)

About the Author

Image with Claire Wilison from GetReskilled Team

Claire Wilson

Content Marketing and Career Coaching

Claire runs GetReskilled’s Advanced Career Coaching Programme – our specially devised job hunting course that helps our trainees take that final step into employment by leading them through the job hunting process. She is extremely enthusiastic about helping people reach their final goal of employment in their new career path.

Claire has a BSc (Hons) in Medical Biology from Edinburgh University and spent 7 years working in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.