Irish contract manufacturer Athlone Laboratories has highlighted its pivotal role in securing Europe's supply of Beta-lactam antibiotics, as scrutiny of critical medicine supply chains intensifies across the EU, according to PMLive. The firm, which has manufactured the antibiotic class at its Athlone site for more than four decades, holds annual capacity to produce 1.2 billion oral Beta-lactam dosage forms.

PMLive reported that Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, alongside representatives from IDA Ireland, met with Athlone Laboratories' leadership team to discuss the domestic manufacturing of critical medicines in Ireland, with Beta-lactams at the top of the agenda.

Beta-lactams are a widely prescribed class of antibiotics used to manage and treat bacterial infections and are designated as critical medicines under the EU's Critical Medicines Act, which prioritises their supply and availability through the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Athlone Laboratories and its sister company, Gaelic Laboratories, are among a small number of Irish firms specialising in Beta-lactam manufacture. Both are GMP-approved and serve as contract manufacturers within the European supply chain.

Brian Morrissey, general manager of Athlone Laboratories, said the two companies can leverage many operational synergies and can coordinate manufacturing resources to support supply continuity.

Rory Mullen, head of biopharma at IDA Ireland, said Athlone Laboratories is a key contributor to Ireland's reputation as a global centre for pharmaceutical innovation, adding that its work in manufacturing critical medicines strengthens our national supply chain and supports patient care across Europe and beyond.

The development comes as the EU Critical Medicines Act moves to address longstanding vulnerabilities in European antibiotic supply chains, with Ireland positioned as a manufacturing hub for essential medicines across member states.

See the full story behind Ireland's critical medicines manufacturing push here.