Danish pharmaceutical manufacturer Novo Nordisk has officially announced a €430 million expansion of its Athlone manufacturing operation to produce the tablet form of weight loss drug Wegovy, according to an RTÉ report.

The new tabletting facility at the Monksland site will provide additional capacity for current and future GLP-1 medicines used to treat diabetes and for weight loss. Wegovy has been available in injection form but was launched in pill form at the start of 2026. The Athlone-manufactured tablet will serve Ireland and the European market.

The entire project, covering 45 acres, will create up to 600 construction positions. Construction projects already begun will be finalised from end-2027 through 2028.

"With the investment in the Athlone facility, Novo Nordisk is expanding its production capacities for oral products, which will enable us to meet both current and future global demand outside the US," said Kasper Bodker Mejlvang, executive vice president CMC and Product Supply at Novo Nordisk. "This investment, a historic milestone for Novo Nordisk in Ireland, marks our continued commitment to Athlone and our highly skilled employees while allowing us to make a difference for millions of people living with serious chronic diseases."

"It will help drive innovation, create highly skilled jobs and further strengthen Ireland's pharmaceutical ecosystem," said Peter Burke, minister for enterprise, tourism and employment. "Ireland hosts nine of the top ten global pharma companies, producing a significant portion of the world's most innovative drugs, solidifying our country's role as a central hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing."

The move links to Novo Nordisk's strategy to reclaim obesity market share lost to rival Eli Lilly, which also operates Irish production facilities.

Read the complete article on Novo Nordisk's Athlone manufacturing investment and European expansion strategy.