We take a look at industry expert opinions, real job advert data and recent job announcements to consider whether a move into pharma and medical device manufacturing is still a great career choice in 2025.

Becton Dickinson & Company (BD) was founded in 1897 in New Jersey, US and was a pioneer in the production of hypodermic needles. Today, it is the 8th biggest Medical Device company in the world (based on 2023 revenue), employing 75,000 people in over 50 countries. In Ireland, the company currently employs over 1300 people across 3 manufacturing sites (in Dublin, Louth and Wexford) and 2 R&D facilities (in Dublin and Limerick).

West Pharmaceutical Services was founded in 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Herman O. West. The company designs and produces packaging containment and drug delivery products for injectable medicines. In Ireland, West Pharmaceutical Services operate 2 manufacturing facilities (one in Dublin and one in Waterford) as well as a Global Financial Services Centre, employing over 1200 people across these 3 sites.

Biopharmaceutical company Regeneron was founded in 1988, by physician-scientists in New York, USA. Regeneron moved into Ireland in 2013 and now has offices in Dublin and a manufacturing site in Limerick. Today, the company employs approximately 1500 people in the country.

Baxter began in the 1930s by launching the first commercially prepared intravenous solutions. It has grown to be the 11th biggest MedTech company in the world (based on 2023 revenue). The company employs almost 2000 people in Ireland, across sites in Dublin and Mayo.

Integer is a contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) for medical devices. The company was formed in 2015 when Greatbatch Inc acquired Lake Region Medical, and was renamed Integer in 2016. Integer has 4 sites in Ireland - 3 in Galway and 1 in New Ross, Wexford - and currently employs over 1700 people in the country.

Bausch + Lomb began in Rochester, New York in 1853, as an optical goods store. Today, Bausch + Lomb employs approximately 13,300 people in over 100 countries. Their manufacturing facility in Waterford, Ireland opened in 1980 has grown to become Bausch + Lomb's biggest manufacturing site worldwide and Waterford's largest private employer.

Viatris was formed in late 2020 through the merger of Mylan and Upjohn. The company make products in therapeutic areas including oncology, infectious disease, women’s health, neurology and rheumatology. There are 5 Viatris sites across Ireland in Dublin, Cork and Galway - 4 manufacturing facilities and 1 office complex.

Becton Dickinson & Company (BD) was founded in 1897 in New Jersey, US and was a pioneer in the production of hypodermic needles. Today, it is the 8th biggest Medical Device company in the world (based on 2023 revenue), employing 75,000 people in over 50 countries. In Ireland, the company currently employs over 1300 people across 3 manufacturing sites (in Dublin, Louth and Wexford) and 2 R&D facilities (in Dublin and Limerick).

AbbVie was formed in 2013 when Abbott Laboratories separated into two publicly traded companies. AbbVie would operate as a research-based pharmaceutical manufacturer that specialises in making small molecule drugs. The company focuses on therapy areas such as immunology, oncology, neurological disorders and metabolic diseases. They are most well known for the rheumatoid arthritis treatment, Humira.

Dr. Stryker founded his company in the U.S in 1941, aiming to make products that met patients’ previously unmet healthcare needs. Today, Stryker is one of the biggest medtech companies in the world. They have seven sites located across Ireland - five manufacturing sites and an R&D Innovation Centre in Cork, and a manufacturing site in Limerick. They also have a manufacturing site in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Johnson & Johnson is a US-based multinational company that was founded in 1886 with the initial idea that wounds should be treated and dressed using sterile equipment. Over time it has grown to be one of the biggest healthcare companies in the world. In Ireland, there are more than 5,000 people employed across sites in Cork, Galway and Limerick.

Medtronic began as a medical supply repair shop in the US in 1949. When they moved into medical device manufacturing, their first commercial product was a battery-powered, wearable pacemaker. Today, they aim to develop and manufacture technology that improves the treatment and management of chronic conditions. In Ireland, the company employs more than 4,000 people across 5 sites in Galway, Athlone and Dublin.

MSD was founded in 1891 and has grown to be the world’s seventh-largest pharmaceutical company. 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.

Colonel Eli Lilly started the company in 1876. His motto to his employees, and all that followed within the company, was: “Take what you find here and make it better and better.” In 1923, Lilly launched the first commercially available insulin product. Their focus on diabetes care continued and in 1982, the company launched Humulin – insulin that was manufactured but identical to that produced by the human body.

Abbott was founded in 1888 by Dr Wallace C. Abbott in Chicago, USA. The company is involved in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of a range of products. Their portfolio spans the breadth of healthcare including medical devices, diagnostics, branded generic pharmaceuticals, and nutritionals.

Boston Scientific is one of the biggest MedTech companies in the world – employing over 41,000 people around the world and selling products in 115 countries. The company was founded in 1979 with the aim of creating less invasive medical devices and procedures, and they continue to innovate across expanding areas of medicine. Today, their medical devices are used to diagnose and treat patients with issues in the areas of cardiology, urology, endoscopy and many more.

Pfizer is the world’s largest research-based pharmaceutical company with operations spanning the globe. Its research headquarters are located in Groton, Connecticut, America. Pfizer develops and produces vaccines and medicines for a range of conditions in the areas of oncology, infections and infestations, cardiology, ophthalmology, neurology and psychiatry. It has been in Ireland for over 50 years and currently has 3 manufacturing plants located there.

By: Claire Wilson. Last Updated: January 2025 Waterford’s Pharma Industry at a Glance Over 4,600 people are directly employed by Pharmaceutical and Medical Device companies in Waterford. Many more are employed indirectly. More than 10 companies have manufacturing sites. BTW, if you are [...]

By: Claire Wilson. Last Updated: January 2025 Limerick's Pharma Industry at a Glance Almost 6,000 people directly employed by Pharmaceutical and Medical Device companies in Limerick. Many more are employed indirectly. Limerick consistently ranks in the top 3 counties for available Pharmaceutical and Medical Device jobs in [...]

By: Claire Wilson. Last Updated: February 2025 Galway's MedTech Industry at a Glance Over 11,700 people directly employed in Pharmaceutical & Medical Device Manufacturing Home to manufacturing sites for 3 of the world's top 15 medical device companies More than 25 companies have manufacturing sites in the county [...]

By: Claire Wilson BSc. Last Updated: January 2025 Cork's Pharma Industry at a Glance Over 14,100 are people directly employed by Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Manufacturing Companies in Cork - many more are employed indirectly Home to seven of the world's top 15 pharmaceutical companies At [...]