Under Martin Shanahan’s stewardship, the IDA has overseen a 54 per cent increase in the number of multinational companies with a presence in this country, while the value of their annual exports has more than doubled to €294.1 billion

Patients will benefit from major breakthroughs in tailored medicines, says boss of Merck’s life science division

The chief executive of Merck’s life science division says the company is investing €440 million in its Cork operation because it can access high-skilled workers here

The German multinational plans to inject €290 million into its existing Cork facility, and will spend a further €150 million building a new plant on the outskirts of Cork city

Recent tests by Merck of an antiviral pill that appears to cut hospitalisation risk by 50 per cent sent the company’s shares soaring. Other companies, including Dublin-based AiPharma, are also in the race to develop antiviral medications