Novo Nordisk has announced a €432 million ($506 million) investment to upgrade and retrofit its facility in Athlone, Ireland, for the production of oral GLP-1 drugs. This move comes as the company seeks to expand its presence in the growing market for oral obesity treatments.
The launch of Novo’s oral Wegovy pill has attracted thousands of new patients who previously avoided injectable medications, according to healthcare analytics firm Truveta. The company expects approval from the European Medicines Agency for the Wegovy pill in the second half of 2026. The investment is intended to support commercialization of the drug outside the United States.
Novo Nordisk plans to use the funds to increase manufacturing capacity at its Irish site, positioning Ireland as a key supplier of oral GLP-1 products for global markets. “The plant’s existing 260 employees will focus on delivering the highest-quality oral treatments to patients in an efficient and environmentally sustainable way,” according to Novo.
The Athlone facility was purchased from Alkermes for $97.9 million in May 2024. After acquiring additional land nearby, Novo entered into subcontracting agreements with Alkermes for development and manufacturing activities, which concluded at the end of last year.
Construction projects have already begun at the site, with completion expected between late 2027 and 2028. When Novo acquired the plant, it employed 400 people; however, last year saw a reduction of 115 positions through redundancies and voluntary departures as part of a global restructuring that cut approximately 9,000 jobs following a leadership change.
This restructuring was driven by challenges in Novo’s injectable GLP-1 business. While sales of oral products are currently rising, competition is expected from Eli Lilly’s upcoming oral candidate orforglipron, which is awaiting an FDA decision under a priority review program.
