Life-saving products made in Ireland will cure more diseases than ever before
Manufacturing, new technologies, next generation therapeutics and pricing will remain challenges for biopharma industry, says IDA expert
What's your name?
Tommy Fanning
What’s your company and describe your role?
IDA Ireland, the Irish government inward investment agency. My role is Head of Biopharmaceuticals
How long have you held the position?
Around two and a half years prior to which I was head of engineering and also held multiple roles overseas.
What are your day to day responsibilities?
To win new biopharma investments for Ireland from new clients and expansion investments from our existing clients. In addition I want to see the sector expand and grow in Ireland as it is hugely important to our economy.
What is your professional background?
My background is in business development and strategy I am neither a scientist nor an engineer but have spent a large portion of my working life dealing with innovative manufacturing companies.
Tell me about yourself away from work?
It is sometimes hard to separate work and home life sometimes, but I enjoy the outdoors, running to keep fit and coaching my son’s soccer team. I enjoy family time and I do separate the hours Monday to Friday from my weekend time with family if I am not travelling for work.
Tell us something very few people know about you?
The family would love a dog but I keep saying no, although secretly I too would like one. As my wife is from Portugal though they disappear there for the summer, so any poor dog would be very lonely.
You are speaking at iQuest’s 2017 Biopharma Summit. What are you speaking about?
The future of Biopharma manufacturing & services in Ireland. What is next as Ireland builds out the ecosystem to support the development of the sector and how international events could influence the sector.
What challenges do you see for the biopharma industry?
Challenges are many; manufacturing capacity, new technologies, next gen. therapeutics and of course the pricing of new innovative products.
Where do you see the industry in 10 years time?
Curing more diseases that we never dreamed was possible with many of these new life-saving products being manufactured in Ireland.
Tommy Fanning, Global Head of Biopharmaceuticals & Food at IDA Ireland will be a panelist at the Biopharma Outlook Summit on May 9 at the AVIVA Stadium in Dublin. For more information on the summit visitBiopharmasummit.ie
