On Monday, Merck & Co Inc ( MRK ) announced the acquisition of WuXi Vaccines‘ manufacturing site in Dundalk, Co Louth, marking a significant expansion of its operations in Ireland.

The $520.1 million (500 million euros) investment highlights Merck’s commitment to the region. It builds on a 3 billion euro investment in Ireland over the past three years.

The move aligns with Merck’s broader growth strategy, which includes plans to add approximately 1,000 jobs nationwide in the coming year.

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The Dundalk facility, spanning 15,520 square meters, is a three-story manufacturing hub.

It houses drug substance and product manufacturing units and quality control laboratories dedicated to producing vaccine products for global distribution. The site currently employs around 200 professionals and plans to hire an additional 150 workers.

The acquisition brings Merck’s total locations in Ireland to eight, covering Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Louth, Meath and Tipperary. Over 3,000 people are employed across the network.

Merck ( MRK ) and WuXi Vaccines are now entering a formal handover process, expected to conclude in the first half of 2025. Once complete, the facility will bolster Merck’s ability to meet the growing global vaccine demand.

In 2024, Merck ( MRK ) announced a 1 billion euro investment across its Carlow and Dunboyne facilities, further showcasing its commitment to scaling its Irish operations.

Price Action: MRK stock is up 0.24% at $99.96 during the premarket session at last check Tuesday.

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