Pharmaceutical giant Roche is due to make a statement this afternoon on what impact the halting of a new heart drug trial will have on its Clare operations.
Yesterday the Swiss drug company announced it was terminating the clinical trials of Dalcetrapib due to poor early results.
The drug is designed to block the cholesterol ester transfer protein or CETP which is linked to heart disease and some industry analysts estimate it would have generated 10 billion euro in annual sales.
It was to be manufactured at Roche in Clarecastle and the news has sparked fears for contract employees at the plant.
The company has told Clare FM they’re currently assessing the implications of the decision on local operations and will release a statement later today.
However a spokesperson added that the drug trial was only one of several different products manufactured at its Clarecastle base and that most full time staff are engaged in other work.
Clarecastle Councillor Paul Murphy is fearful for part time workers at the plant arising from the cancellation of the drugs trial and added that there’s disappointment over the decision, given that there was expectations it would actually bring a jobs boost to the area.
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