How Ireland became dependent on big pharma — and the risks ahead
- Posted on March 31, 2026
- By CNBC
- 1 Views
How Ireland became dependent on big pharma — and the risks ahead
In just 50 years, Ireland has become the world’s third largest exporter of pharmaceuticals, with medicines now making up about 20% of Ireland’s GDP. So how did Ireland become so tied to the pharma industry — and is that reliance at risk amid tariffs, patent cliffs and geopolitical tension?
