Pharma giant with Tipperary plant says none of its Irish sites to close in $3bn cuts
MSD wouldn't comment on whether the cost cutting will result in jobs losses at any of its Irish plants including at Ballydine, Kilsheelan
MSD says the $3bn in global costs cuts it’s implementing won’t result in the closure of any of its Irish sites but it won’t comment on whether there will be jobs lost in Ireland including at its Tipperary plant near Kilsheelan.
The US multi-national announced the cost cutting drive at the end of July and aims to have it substantially completed by the end of 2027 when it publishes its financial results for the second quarter of 2025.
The cost cuts come as the pharmaceutical giant prepares for generic competition to its hugely popular cancer drug Keytruda.
The drug is manufactured in Ireland though not at the MSD plant at Ballydine, Kilsheelan.
In a statement, MSD said on July 29 it announced what it described as a “a multi-year optimisation”.
This was “designed to enable the transformation of our portfolio by generating $3 billion in cost savings from productivity actions, which will be fully redirected to support new product launches and investment in its pipeline across multiple therapeutic areas.”
The statement continued: “In addition, the company will reduce its global presence and continue to optimise its manufacturing network, aligning with the geography of its global manufacturing to its customers and reflecting changes in the company’s business.”
MSD added: “The restructuring announced on July 29 does not include site closures in Ireland.”
MSD's Q2 2025 financial results report outlines that the €3bn cost cutting plan will include “the elimination of certain administrative, sales and R&D positions” but added that the company will continue to hire employees in new roles across its growth areas.
A MSD spokesperson said the company was not saying any more than what was contained in its statement when contacted about whether the cost cutting will result in job losses at its plant at Ballydine or any of its other Irish plants.