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• Total Revenue 2023: $58.5 billion
• Estimated R&D Spend 2023: $13.8 billion
• Global Number of Employees 2023: 88,000

The company was first established in 1849 as a fine-chemicals business in New York by cousins Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhart and has grown to its current size through both pipeline development and acquisition.

Pfizer has treatments in many prominent disease areas and therapies in most high-growth markets including oncology, infections and infestations, cardiology, ophthalmology, neurology and psychiatry.

Pfizer retains the No.1 position as the No.1 pharma company in the world ranked by reveneu. However, sales dropped from $100.3 billion in 2022 to $58.5 billion in 2023 due to a slowdown in the sales of its COVID-19 vaccine.

Ref: Pfizer Inc Annual Report 2023

Pfizer was one of the first pharmaceutical companies to move into Ireland, in 1969.

To date, their total capital investment in Ireland exceeds $8 billion and they now employ approximately 5,000 people across 5 sites in Cork, Dublin, and Kildare. This makes them one of the largest pharmaceutical sector investors and employers in Ireland.

Their manufacturing operations include active pharmaceutical ingredients, solid dose pharmaceuticals, sterile injectables, vaccines, biopharmaceuticals and the BioNTech Pfizer covid 19 vaccine, Comirnaty. In addition to manufacturing, Pfizer’s Irish operations include shared services, R&D, treasury and commercial operations.

2022’s Most Attractive Employers Index Ireland ranked Pfizer as number 1 in the categories of engineering and natural sciences professionals.

Overall rating by their employees 2025 (source):

• Employees in Cork: 700
• Activities: API Manufacturing

There has been a Pfizer plant on the Ringaskiddy site since 1969. The site has three organic synthesis plants and a new product testing laboratory.

The company describe the site as a…

“multi-award-winning manufacturing facility [that] is key to the Pfizer business and plays a critical strategic role in new global products and launches”

(Pfizer.com)

As well as manufacturing of bulk pharmaceuticals for export around the world, the site also works alongside Pfizer Global Research & Development to scale up new products for regulatory approval and launch.

Pfizer Ringaskiddy won the Health and Safety award at the Pharma Awards 2022.

We are delighted to win the @PharmaAwardsIRL Health & Safety Award #PharmaAwardsIRL! https://t.co/5h0QWp7U2R

— Pfizer Ireland (@Pfizer_Ireland) April 28, 2022

Click here to see our full county guide for Cork.

• Employees in Dublin: 3,000+ (over 2,400 within the Grange Castle manufacturing site)
• Activities: Biologics manufacturing; shared services; R&D; treasury; commercial operations

Pfizer has 2 commercial and business sites at Ringsend and Citywest in Dublin, but it also has the Grange Castle manufacturing site.

The Grange Castle site (previously owned by Wyeth) is one of the company’s leading biotechnology manufacturing sites. It represents the largest investment in a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Ireland, with a total investment of €1.8 billion. Opened in 2005, the facilities cover more than 1 million square feet making it “one of the largest integrated biopharmaceutical plants in the world”.

Grange Castle is responsible for producing a wide range of biologics and vaccines (including finished vaccine products in pre-filled syringes and the company’s Covid-19 vaccine). The site also manufactures products for clinical trials.

The Quality Control laboratories in Grange Castle provide support to other Pfizer manufacturing sites around the world and there are significant research and development activities happening here as well.

In December 2022, Pfizer announced a €1.2 billion capital investment in the Grange Castle site. The investment, which is Pfizer’s biggest expansion investment to date in Ireland, will see a new facility built on the site premises that will double the capacity for biological drug substance manufacturing at the site. This expansion is expected to create a further 400-500 jobs at Grange Castle. For more information, see the “The Future of Pfizer in Ireland” section below.

Click here for our full county guide for Dublin.

• Employees in Kildare: 950
• Activities: Solid dose pharmaceutical manufacturing

Pfizer established the Newbridge, Kildare site in 1992. After years of ongoing investment (including over €350m since 2006 alone) the site now covers 1 million square feet, making it one of the largest solid dose pharmaceutical manufacturing sites in Europe.

Over 80 products are currently manufactured here and then exported to more than 100 countries around the world.

Pfizer Newbridge have put measures in place that mean we are constantly saving energy and working towards a more sustainable future for all. We look forward to continuing our sustainability efforts. Read more here: https://t.co/r4qhzuj02t pic.twitter.com/aFt74nVZC1

— Pfizer Ireland (@Pfizer_Ireland) July 11, 2022

In November 2020, Pfizer announced a €300m investment in Ireland that will see 300 jobs created across their sites at Cork, Dublin, and Kildare.

The new jobs will come as a result of an increase in manufacturing and laboratory capacity and recruitment for those roles was expected to take 2-3 years.

We are very pleased to announce additional investment today which will strengthen our Irish operations and bring our total headcount to 4,000. These new roles will play a key role in the manufacturing & delivery of medicines to patients worldwide. pic.twitter.com/ENJicUvZKz

— Pfizer Ireland (@Pfizer_Ireland) November 2, 2020

In December 2022, Pfizer went on to announce a massive $1.2bn capital investment in their Grange Castle, Dublin site. Once built, the new facility will double the biologic drug substance manufacturing capabilities. The company’s largest single investment in Ireland to date is expected to bring 400-500 permanent new jobs once completed.

“this major additional investment, adding further drug substance capacity to its already substantial Irish operations and jobs, underscores the strategic importance of Ireland in Pfizer’s global operations. It is proof of the company’s future commitment to Ireland and testament to Ireland’s continued attractiveness as a location for investment.”

– IDA Ireland Interim CEO, Mary Buckley.

We’re delighted to announce a €1.2 billion capital investment in our Grange Castle site. This investment will bring up to a further 500 highly-skilled jobs and ensure that we’re ready to support the next wave of medical innovations. pic.twitter.com/Dn1ZT2msbs

— Pfizer Ireland (@Pfizer_Ireland) December 1, 2022

If you already have experience in the pharma or medical device manufacturing industries, you can head straight over Pfizer’s career page and see the current Pfizer 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:

• Conversion Course into Pharma for Scientists
• Conversion Course into Quality Roles in Pharma
• Conversion Course into Engineering Roles in Pharma

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!)

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