(Yicai Global) Nov. 25 -- A unit of China's WuXi Biologics will increase its investment in a vaccine production plant in Ireland, aiming to make it the world's largest single-use biologics manufacturing facility.

Wuxi Vaccines, a joint venture with animal vaccine maker Hile Bio-Technology, intends to invest a further USD240 million, creating 200 more jobs in Dundalk, WuXi Biologics said in a statement on its WeChat account on Nov. 23. 

Wuxi Vaccines signed a letter of intent back in April to build the contract manufacturing project, which will research and make human vaccines with an initial investment of EUR325 million (USD358.3 million) and an estimated 400 jobs. Production is due to kick off in 2021.

The project is a "further testimony to the technical strengths, premier quality, and commercial manufacturing expertise which WuXi Biologics will bring to Dundalk," Dr. Chris Chen, chief executive of WuXi Biologics and chairman of WuXi Vaccines, said in a Nov. 22 press release.

Shares of Jiangsu-province based Wuxi Biologics's [HKG:2269] fell 4 percent to close at HKD87.80 (USD11.21), while Shanghai-based Hile Bio-Technology [SHA:603718] rose 1.5 percent to CNY12 (USD1.71). 

Editor: Emmi Laine