Novo Nordisk announced a 432 million euro investment to expand its manufacturing operations in Athlone, Ireland, directing the funds toward increased production capacity for oral pharmaceutical products. The company said the project is designed to bolster its capacity to supply markets outside the United States.
According to Novo Nordisk, the enhancement will specifically increase the sites ability to manufacture oral formulations of its GLP-1 class drugs. The company identified Wegovy and Ozempic among the GLP-1 products that will be produced in oral versions as part of the expanded operations.
The statement accompanying the investment announcement included comments from Kasper Bodker Mejlvang, Novo Nordisks head of product supply, who said the move will strengthen the companys ability to meet current and future demand outside the U.S. Mejlvangs remarks were presented in a company statement and tied the capital allocation to broader supply objectives.
Officials said construction activity has already started at the Athlone facility. The company expects the various elements of the expansion to be completed in stages, with work rolling out gradually from the end of 2027 through 2028. Novo Nordisk attributed the phased schedule to the nature of the construction projects at the site.
This expansion focuses on oral product capacity at the Athlone site rather than changes to other modalities or locations. The companys disclosure centers on the purpose of the investment, the types of products involved, and the timeline for bringing expanded capacity online.
Contextual note on supply and production
The announcement highlights three central elements: the size of the investment, the product focus on oral GLP-1 formulations including Wegovy and Ozempic, and the planned schedule for phased completion from late 2027 through 2028. The company framed the investment as a measure to better serve demand outside the United States.
While details on specific capacity metrics, workforce changes, or exact construction milestones were not provided in the statement, Novo Nordisk indicated that work has begun and that the expanded output will be realized progressively over the indicated timeline.