Press release: Welsh Secretary announces multi-million pound expansion of Ipsen’s Wrexham site

• Healthcare and life sciences company Ipsen invests £22million at its North Wales site
• Ipsen pledges its commitment to Wales post EU Exit

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns will visit North Wales today (17 November 2017) to welcome global healthcare company Ipsen’s £22million investment at its Wrexham site.

The announcement cements the organisation’s commitment to the UK healthcare arena and further underlines Wales’ growing reputation as a centre of excellence for life sciences.

Ipsen is the third biggest employer in the area with approximately 400 employees. Today’s announcement will see its Wrexham footprint expand to increase research and manufacturing capacity with new packing line capability and a new office environment.

Life sciences is one of Wales’ fastest growing sectors. It has a turnover of around £2 billion and employs around 11,000 people in over 350 companies.

The UK’s strengths in science, research and innovation are also a major focus of the government’s industrial strategy.

The Secretary of State will also tour global medical products and technologies company ConvaTec in Deeside.

Welcoming the announcement Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said:

Ipsen is one of North Wales’ great success stories. Their continued expansion is a clear demonstration of the significant contribution life sciences and innovation in these specialist areas make to the region and to the Welsh economy.

The continued growth of Ipsen’s presence in Wrexham demonstrates its commitment to North Wales and to its skilled workforce. These are exciting times for the company and for the sector in Wales as a whole as we look to establish ourselves as a world class hub of excellence in life sciences research and development.

Ipsen sell products in 115 countries worldwide, has operated in Wrexham since 1995, with more than 25 years of experience, manufacturing and development of innovative specialty care products. The site at Wrexham produces one of Ipsen’s key strategic products Dysport®, which is approved in 80 countries and in several therapeutic indications such as cerebral palsy, spasticity and cervical dystonia.

Aidan Murphy, Senior Vice President, Biotech Development and Manufacturing at Ipsne said:

We are delighted by today’s announcement as we take important strides in the accelerated expansion programme underway at Wrexham which will see production grow significantly to reflect demand and company ambition.

The manufacture of Dysport® remains a highly complex process, difficult to replicate and utilises technology that isolates the product, not only from the environment, but the people working in the area. We are fortunate to work with a group of highly-skilled individuals across all parts of the organisation at Wrexham and know that this expansion reinforces the site’s position as a state-of-the-art medicine manufacturing facility located here in the UK.

Ewan McDowall, General Manager Ipsen UK & Ireland, commented on the continued investment in the UK saying,

The UK remains a pioneer of healthcare, life sciences and technology, and Ipsen will continue to invest and support UK growth. Brexit has brought a period of uncertainty, however Ipsen remain confident that the UK will remain an important location for us across research, development, manufacturing and patients’ access to medicines.

Alun Cairns added:

Ipsen is an important inward investor in Wales. As we prepare to leave the EU, this government is committed through our Industrial Strategy to ensuring the UK remains one of the best places in the world to do business.