Medical technology, services and solutions company Medtronic today announced a new manufacturing facility in Galway to manufacture drug-coated balloons (DCB) technology.
These DCBs are used for the treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD), a build-up of plaque in arteries throughout the body leading to reduced blood flow to the limbs, organs, and the brain. Patients with PAD are at higher risk for stroke and heart attack.
Tony Semedo, senior vice president and president of the Aortic and Peripheral Vascular business at Medtronic, added: “Since launching the IN.PACT Admiral DCB in the US market, it has quickly become the fastest adopted DCB technology. In fact, our global market leadership in DCB is driving the need to open the new facility here in Galway to provide more patients access to this highly efficacious and safe treatment option for peripheral arterial disease. Our Galway operations and staff have very specific expertise in this area, which is the platform for this announcement. Once fully operational, this facility will be the only DCB manufacturing area of its kind in Medtronic worldwide. Our organisation is on an expansionary path, with a notable amount of this growth to be fuelled by products coming out of Ireland.”
Martin Shanahan, CEO, IDA Ireland, said: “This announcement once again showcases Ireland’s position as a global hub for medical technologies, with this country employing the highest number of medical technologies personnel per capita in Europe. We have worked over a period of time with Medtronic to bring this capability and project to fruition in Ireland. The decision by Ireland and the IDA several decades ago to attract major medical and other technology companies to Ireland via state investment and support infrastructure continues to enable Ireland to reap the benefits.”
Medtronic, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is among the world’s largest medical technology, services and solutions companies.
The company employs more than 85,000 people worldwide, with over 3,000 stationed in Galway, broken across its Parkmore Business Park West and Mervue facilities.