Amgen has agreed to buy a Pfizer manufacturing plant at Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, securing 280 jobs in the process. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of the year, according to Fierce Pharma.

Under the agreement, 240 employees will transfer to Amgen; the other 40 will remain employed by Pfizer. Amgen will manufacture Pfizer's products at the facility for an interim period, and Pfizer will lease a portion of the facility from Amgen.

Amgen intends to develop the capability to formulate and fill its biological products at the site and expand manufacturing capabilities. The aseptic operations facility has freeze dry product and liquid vial filling operations.

"As we expand internationally, the Dublin site will help us deliver a growing supply of Amgen medicines for patients worldwide," Madhu Balachandran, senior vice president of Amgen Manufacturing, said in a statement issued by Ireland's Industrial Development Agency (IDA). "We are impressed with the technical expertise and commitment to excellence demonstrated by the employees who work at the Dun Laoghaire site and look forward to welcoming them to Amgen's global manufacturing team."