Millicent Pharma, a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on women’s health, has announced a multimillion pound investment in its Larne manufacturing facility and the creation of 20 plus new local high-quality jobs at its Larne facility.
The investment will support automation and productivity improvements at the Larne site, strengthening the company’s manufacturing capabilities, innovation and enabling it to respond to growing demand for its products.
Millicent Pharma is a fully integrated pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and sells branded women’s health therapies, including contraception and hormone replacement therapy, with operations spanning manufacturing, research and development, and corporate functions across the UK, Ireland, the US and Puerto Rico.
Established in 2018, with financial backing from the Carlyle Group and its founders, Millicent Pharma operates manufacturing facilities in Larne and Puerto Rico, alongside corporate offices in Dundalk, Ireland and New Jersey, USA. Invest Northern Ireland has also previously supported the company’s growth in the region.
The Larne facility serves as both a manufacturing base and a dedicated R&D Centre of Excellence playing an important role in the region’s life sciences and pharmaceutical sector.
The planned expansion will increase the Larne workforce from 50 to 70 employees, with recruitment across a range of positions including technicians, managers, supervisors, engineers and quality assurance specialists.
Ryan Loughlin, Senior Vice-President of Millicent Pharma, said: “We are delighted to announce our expansion plans in Larne. Having been part of the local economy for seven years, this announcement is a tangible demonstration of our commitment to investing in both our production capabilities and job creation; collectively a meaningful contribution to the region’s prosperity.
“The team at Millicent Pharma are equally as passionate about our research and development within women’s health and about supporting Larne’s community wealth-building initiatives. We look forward to seeing the impact this major capital investment will have both on the local economy and on women’s health globally.”
As part of this commitment, Millicent Pharma is a supporter of the Larne Community Wealth Building Partnership, a programme led by LEDCOM.
Ken Nelson, CEO, LEDCOM and Chairman, Larne Community Wealth Building Partnership, said; “As a vital part of the Larne life and health sciences sector, it’s exciting to witness Millicent Pharma’s growth plans as it progresses towards being a global centre of excellence within its target markets. Its ongoing investment plans will create attractive new employment and skills opportunities for the local area.”
Ryan Loughlin added; “Our future and Larne’s future are closely linked. Supporting the Community Wealth Building Partnership is about ensuring that, as Millicent Pharma grows, the benefits, skills, jobs, and opportunities, are shared across the whole locality.”
Capital investment has already commenced and will continue over the next few years, with recruitment for the new roles actively underway following job postings published in early October.