Fears for 350 jobs as Liverpool pharmaceutical plant, which only last year announced a £10m investment, issues a Notice of Intent to appoint an administrator. Tony McDonough reports
A US-owned pharmaceutical factory in south Liverpool, which employs more than 350 people, has filed a Notice of Intent to appoint an administrator.
TriRx Pharmaceutical Services operates in Speke and has its global headquarters in Connecticut. In July 2023 the company announced a £10m investment to enhance its capabilities to manufacture monoclonal antibodies at the site.
Monoclonal antibodies (also referred to as mAbs) are a type of immunotherapy that work by blocking certain diseases from affecting healthy cells and are used to treat numerous types of diseases including cancers, arthritis and skin conditions.
However, the company has now filed a Notice of Intent to appoint an administrator. This usually means a business will be placed into administration unless an immediate solution to a financial problem can be identified.
TriRx has told the Liverpool Echo the notice relates to a “current situation with its core customer”.
Nick Davis, director of the Speke site, said: “TriRx Pharmaceuticals, a leading player in the pharmaceutical contract manufacturing and development space, have issued a Notice of Intent to appoint an administrator at their site located in Speke, Liverpool.
“As of Friday, August 30, the directors of TriRx Speke took the decision that, based on the current situation with its core customer, they had no choice but to file a Notice of Intention to appoint an administrator.
“The company is not in administration at this point in time, and the directors are working hard to secure a solution for the site.”
This latest news represents another headache for Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram who is keen to build on Liverpool city region’s existing life sciences sector. Last year’s TriRx announcement was part of a plan to create a £320m life sciences Investment Zone.
In August LBN reported that plans for a £450m vaccine manufacturing plant, also in Speke, was in jeopardy because the Government wants to cut back its financial support.
In March it was announced to great fanfare that pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca was to build a new vaccine research, development and manufacturing facility at its existing site in Speke. It would be powered by renewable energy.