Eli Lilly Reaffirms Commitment to Irish Plants Amid US Pressure

UPDATE: Eli Lilly has just confirmed its unwavering commitment to its manufacturing plants in Cork and Limerick, despite increasing pressure from former US President Donald Trump for pharmaceutical companies to relocate production to the United States. The announcement comes as the company’s weight-loss drug Mounjaro gains traction and is currently under evaluation for public funding in Ireland.

In a statement today, Patrik Jonsson, executive vice president and president of Lilly International, emphasized that both the Cork and Limerick facilities will continue to play a pivotal role in Eli Lilly’s supply chain. “We are committed to Kinsale; our history here goes back a long way,” Jonsson said. “We’ve been investing heavily in Ireland over the last years and we are continuing to invest.”

The Kinsale plant is responsible for producing the active ingredient in Mounjaro, which is then sent to other locations for further development. Jonsson reassured the public, “All of our sites here will continue to play a significant role in our supply chain for medicines today and also tomorrow.”

As concern grows in Cork regarding the potential repercussions of Trump’s statements, Jonsson noted the lack of clarity surrounding the implications of Trump’s call for a “most favoured nation” status for drug pricing in the US. “We’re not necessarily advocates for that concept, but we believe that every developed nation should pay their fair part in innovative medicines,” he said.

The urgency of this situation is heightened by obesity experts in Ireland, who are optimistic that medications like Mounjaro could potentially render obesity a disease of the past. Jonsson highlighted the “quite impressive” impact of studies related to the drug.

The National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics is currently assessing Mounjaro’s potential approval for weight-loss and diabetes patients, with Professor Michael Barry estimating a budget cost of €500 million over five years if the drug receives approval. In the meantime, private patients in Ireland are facing costs of nearly €300 for a month’s supply of the smallest dosage, prompting some to seek cheaper alternatives from Northern Ireland.

Jonsson voiced frustration over the discrepancies in drug pricing, stating, “The price in the UK was very different compared to the European average; there is no logic at all that prices in the UK should be significantly below the European average.”

As Eli Lilly solidifies its operations in Ireland, the pharmaceutical landscape remains watchful of how these developments will unfold in light of US political pressures. The commitment to local manufacturing not only ensures job security for many in Cork and Limerick but also reinforces Ireland’s position as a significant player in the global pharmaceutical market.

Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.