Pfizer has been granted conditional planning permission to develop a facility to make early-stage drugs for global clinical trials at its site in Ringaskiddy, which may play a role in the pharmaceutical giant’s response to Covid-19.

Pfizer received permission to develop the new clinical manufacturing facility, which is part of a €300m capital investment in its Irish operations announced last November, at the existing Pfizer site from Cork County Council.

Planning documents show the development could lead to the creation of over 100 jobs.

Pfizer’s new Ringaskiddy development will play a role in manufacturing medicines for clinical trials. These are early-stage medicines that are not yet approved by regulators. As of May, Pfizer had 99 potential new therapies at various stages of clinical trials in areas such as cancer, immunology, rare disease and gene therapy.

The company is also working on an at-home Covid pill, which CEO Albert Bourla said could be available by the end of the year. Its Ringaskiddy plant may potentially be involved in the development of two “protease inhibitors” for Covid-19, which are in early-stage clinical trial, and could be part of the Covid-19 pill.

In May, Pfizer announced its Grange Castle site in Dublin is to become part of its Covid-19 vaccine supply chain as part of a new $40m investment locally. It is set to create 75 jobs.

Pfizer said recruitment is under way for the new roles at Grange Castle, with a radio campaign set to start next week, as well as at Ringaskiddy. Positions will include engineers, biopharma manufacturing technicians, biopharma scientists, and quality control technicians.

Pfizer also said its work on the “tech transfer” regarding the Covid-19 vaccine is under way. It expects Grange Castle will be brought on to the vaccine network by the end of 2021.

The Grange Castle facility is set to produce the mRNA drug substance. Grange Castle is one of Pfizer’s leading biologic sites employing 1,700 people and manufacturing biologic medicines and vaccines.

Pfizer’s investment in Grange Castle is on top of the programme of investment announced in November, which referenced the Ringaskiddy site. That announcement also mentioned its Grange Castle site and one in Newbridge, Co Kildare.