The drugmaker denies making a final decision, but that didn’t stop the construction firm awarded a contract from making an announcement this week. And that move took Pfizer by surprise. On Tuesday, Jacobs Engineering issued a press release saying it will work on a new small-scale clinical biotech manufacturing center in Shanbally, Cork, Ireland, and that construction begins next month.

But Pfizer claims plans haven’t yet been approved internally and the announcement, therefore, was premature, a Pfizer spokesperson tells DrugResearcher. Jacobs, on the other hand, seems quite clear on the project and has released details of the planned construction. According to the construction services company, the facility will be built on Pfizer’s 28-acre brownfield site in Shanbally, accommodating a production plant, QA/QC laboratories, administration facilities and associated infrastructure.

Pfizer, however, seems to disagree. According to a hastily compiled statement put together in response to the Jacobs release, DrugResearcher writes that Pfizer claims an internal decision on whether to give the plant plans the go-ahead isn’t even expected until October - a month after Jacobs has said it is planning to begin construction.

The final application for internal Pfizer approval can only be submitted following completion of a series of defined steps, according to the drugmaker. These have so far included conceptual and preliminary design work, an application for planning permission, and “the award of a contract for pre-construction services to Jacobs Engineering.”

A Pfizer spokesperson revealed that planning permission had “technically” been granted by Cork County Council last month, though is still subject to the drugmaker getting back to the council “on a number of issues which (it is) currently working through.” The spokesman also confirmed a contract for pre-construction services for the proposed plant had indeed been awarded.

However, as far as the other details released by Jacobs, Pfizer seems extremely reluctant to confirm the firm’s estimates or even that the plant plans will come to fruition: “Until a final decision is made internally on the facility it is premature to speculate on the outcome of the process or potential starting dates for plant construction.”

Jacobs Engineering was unavailable for comment prior to going to press.

Although Pfizer admitted that it indeed has a preliminary manufacturing date of late 2009, the pending status of internal approvals means the company feels that it is “premature…to be absolute about this,” according to the spokesperson. But Pfizer did disclose the facilities that would be present at the proposed Shanbally plant, confirming Jacobs’ description of the planned site and stating that the main building itself will have a total footprint of 5020m2 and a height of 22m.

Initial estimates had put the cost of the proposed facility at around €175m, with the plant due to be used for the production of Phase III clinical trial products and initial launches of biologic products.

Pfizer is actively pursuing plans to build a “major presence” in biotherapeutics, with large molecules due to play a “very important part” in the firm’s future, according to recent company announcements. There are currently 14 biologic compounds in the company’s pipeline, including vaccines and antibodies to treat cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and flu among other conditions.

“Pfizer is making significant internal and external investments to further expand its presence in biologics and capitalise on attractive development opportunities,” DrugResearcher was told.

This business plan is reflected in ongoing activities by the company, such as an active manufacturing agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim and the acquisition of Pharmacia several years ago, which served to increase the company’s biologics R&D capacity.