A COMPANY specialising in the manufacture of cheaper generic alternatives to high-cost drugs is to create 44 jobs by expanding its operations in Dublin.

Aspen, which already has a premises at Citywest, is expanding its existing operation to set up a global regulatory and quality assurance centre of excellence in the industrial estate.

The Citywest premises already serves as its European marketing and supply chain headquarters. The move brings Aspen’s workforce in Ireland to 58.

Group CEO Stephen Saad said he was “delighted to see the continued growth of Aspen here in Ireland.Ireland provides for us a workforce with the specialised skills we require and a strong regulatory and business environment.”

The jobs are being supported by IDA Ireland, whose chief executive Barry O’Leary welcomed the news.

“Aspen’s decision to locate this operation here adds to Ireland’s cluster of life science companies and will add to our reputation as a leading centre for this sector,” O’Leary claimed.

“A key member of this cluster in Ireland is GlaxoSmithKline which owns a 20 per cent share of Aspen.”

Jobs minister Richard Bruton said he was “determined to ensure that we build on this to target further generics investments to create the jobs and growth we need”.