DANISH PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY Novo Nordisk is to spend over €430m on its plant in Athlone to start manufacturing a tablet form of its Wegovy weight-loss jab.

Novo Nordisk is behind Wegovy and Ozempic, both of which require injections.

Both are GLP-1 treatments, which are used to manage diabetes and obesity.

However, tablet forms of Wegovy are now being produced and Novo Nordisk said the investment in the Athlone plant will “enhance capacity to manufacture oral GLP-1s”.

Oral Wegovy was approved for sale in the US in January and is expected to be approved on other markets soon.

Novo Nordisk also said the investment is part of a “long-term commitment” to Ireland.

Dilek Dogan Gurluk, general manager of Novo Nordisk Ireland, remarked that the Athlone facility will be a “key strategic part of our plan” to expand access to its diabetes and obesity drugs.

He added: “Ireland faces a significant public health challenge.

“Over the past 30 years, rates of overweight and obesity have risen sharply across all age groups, social classes, and genders.

“Today, Ireland ranks among the highest in Europe, with 60% of adults and more than 20% of children living with overweight or obesity.

“These trends are shaped by the environments in which we live, work and age, and they demand a comprehensive model of care for patient treatment.” 

Speaking today in Athlone, Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Peter Burke, remarked that the investment “further strengthens Ireland’s pharmaceutical ecosystem”.

“I commend Novo Nordisk on this milestone investment, which underpins Ireland’s robust competitiveness in the life sciences sector and is a testimony to the role the Midlands plays in pharma innovation in Ireland,” said Burke.

Novo Nordisk said the project will create up to 600 construction jobs.

The construction projects, which have already begun, will be finalised gradually from the end of 2027 through 2028.