The largest global study into chronic heart failure has found that a drug made in Co. Wicklow reduces death and hospitalisation due to heart failure by more than a quarter in at-risk patients.

The research project, 3which included six centres In Ireland, found that Ivabradine, a medicine to specifically reduce heart rate, reduces death and hospitalisation due to heart failure by 26%, in patients with moderate to severe heart failure and a heart rate above 70 beats per minute.

Ivabradine, produced by the French pharmaceutical company Servier at its plant, is the first innovative treatment in its class and the only treatment to provide pure heart rate reduction. It is shown to significantly improve the overall prognosis for patients with chronic heart failure. In Ireland, Ivabradine is currently licensed to treat chronic stable angina pectoris.

The Servier plant inArkow, which currently employs 300 people, was the first manufacturing facility to be built outside of France in 1989. The size of the Arklow factory has double in the past three years with Servier investing €68 Million in the plant and 124 million in Ireland since beginning manufacturing operations in the town.

Francis McKeown, Assistant General Manager, Servier Arklow Plant told the Wicklow Times, “The whole team in Arklow is very excited by the great results of the study. We are delighted at the very positive impact that the study will have on the Arklow plant and also on the whole Servier group. The company has made substantial investment in Arklow in recent years, opening a new packing hall in 2008 and more recently, a new state of the art production building. These investments will ensure that all demands for Ivabradine and our other products can be met and consolidates the position of the Wicklow facility as a strategic site in the Servier organization”

Commenting on the findings, HSE National Clinical Programme Director of Heart Failure, Consultant Cardiologist, St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin, said, “We have not seen results like SHIFT in heart failure in some tome so this is of major clinical importance. The problem, of heart failure is reaching epidemic proportions in Ireland and worldwide due t our ageing population so we urgently need better ways of managing this disease”

Pro McDonald, who participated in the research as an Irish investigator in the study, added: “We know that heart rate is an important target in heart failure treatment and SHIFT gives us valuable information about the benefits of specific heart rate reduction with Ivabradine. If we can reduce heart rate in theses patients, we can improve survival.”

A Speed networking event involving all of County Wicklow’s chambers of commerce takes place on Wednesday September 15th in the Royal Hotel and Merrill Leisure Club and registration at 7 p.m.

Members of Wicklow town, Arklow, Bray and Greystones Chambers will be present on the night, as will representatives from Dun Laoghaire Chambers of Commerce. Please pre-register by contacting Susana at (0404 66610) or email the booking form to susana@wicklowchamber.ie

‘SHOCK AS BORD PLEANALA GIVES GREEN LIGHT’

Arklow could be dragged from recession with the news that the long awaited Alps site on Upper Main Street has been granted development approval.

Developer Graham Quinn received the news from An Bord Pleanála yesterday morning and told the Wicklow People that he is ‘delighted and shocked’.

For the past two years the file has been under consideration by the board and has been amended on several occasions following objections from various parties.
The biggest change that is to be made as a result of conditions is for a section of the building to be reduced from three to two storeys.

The project was estimated pre-recession to cost in the region of €180m and is expected to create up to 500 new jobs including during construction stages.

‘It is fantastic news, now I can start talking to anchor tenants and negotiating with them, all of which was put on hold until we had a decision.  The first stages will be to start marketing the project and to appoint an auctioneer,’ said Mr. Quinn.

The Dublin-based developer said that he is keen to bring the project to fruition and that Arklow is a great town which will undoubtedly benefit from this economic boost.
‘Arklow is a great town with a great population and this will create a lot of employment.  We want to get good operators for the hotel and retail units which will provide products that Arklow needs,’ he added.

The site on which the old Ormonde Cinema building stands will be transformed for the construction of a 93 bedroom hotel, 74 residential units, medical centre, crèche, 35 retail units and 14 office units and a multi storey car park facility.

Eamon De Buitlear launches Wicklow Tourism DVD

A new DVD offering a wonderful overview of County Wicklow was launched at a special event held in the Druid’s Glen Resort.

Renowned broadcaster, author and independent film maker Eamon de Buitlear officially launched the production whilst also praising its quality.

Presented by broadcaster Siobhan O’Connor, the Wicklow County Tourism DVD gives the viewer an excellent insight into what the Garden County has to offer.  There are also breathtaking aerial shots showcasing some spectacular scenery.

In his speech Chairman of Wicklow County Tourism, Tom Fortune thanked Eamon de Buitlear for launching the DVD.  He also said that the DVD will be an invaluable tool for promoting the Garden County, both at home and abroad.

‘A Journey through Wicklow highlights some of the best attractions that our beautiful county has to offer.  This type of promotion is an excellent resource by which to promote the county both in Ireland and abroad.  Not only has the film aired on City Channel and Channel South for a number of months this year, it is also available to watch on our website, www.visitwicklow.ie and it can also be viewed on YouTube.  We featured the DVD in our recent pan-European e-zine campaign, in conjunction with Tourism Ireland, and was sent to over 1 million ‘friends of Ireland’ email addresses throughout Europe.’

‘A Journey through Wicklow’ has already aired on the City Channel in Dublin and Galway and on Channel South in Munster.

WICKLOW International Airport moves a step closer to getting off the ground this week as negotiations commenced with Arklow landowners with a view to securing a site for the €100m project.

Speaking to the Wicklow People this week, consortium CEO Antony Martin confirmed that talks were ongoing with vendors but further information was unavailable at suck an early stage.

According to the team behind the airport plan, a 600-acre site is required.