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| Head of NI drugs giant Almac dies | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The prominent industrialist and philanthropist Sir Allen McClay, 80, has died in the United States. | |
| He is survived by his wife Heather, who he married in hospital the US in November last year. | |
| Sir Allen, who qualified as a pharmacist in 1953, established his first business, Galen, in 1968. | Sir Allen, who qualified as a pharmacist in 1953, established his first business, Galen, in 1968. |
| It became a world-leading pharmaceutical and biotech company and made Sir Allen a multi-millionaire and one of Northern Ireland's richest men. | It became a world-leading pharmaceutical and biotech company and made Sir Allen a multi-millionaire and one of Northern Ireland's richest men. |
| He established Galen in 1968 and floated the company on the London and Dublin stockmarkets in 1997, establishing the first £1bn company in Northern Ireland and his own personal fortune. | |
| In September 2001, he retired as President of Galen Holdings. However, he soon bought back five divisions and established a new company, Almac. | In September 2001, he retired as President of Galen Holdings. However, he soon bought back five divisions and established a new company, Almac. |
| It became a successful company in its own right, employing thousands of people in the pharmaceutical industry. | It became a successful company in its own right, employing thousands of people in the pharmaceutical industry. |
| He was knighted by the Queen in 2005. However he was known to be humble about his success and wealth. | He was knighted by the Queen in 2005. However he was known to be humble about his success and wealth. |
| Two years ago, he told The Scientist magazine that "when they say Sir, I look behind me to see who they are talking to". | Two years ago, he told The Scientist magazine that "when they say Sir, I look behind me to see who they are talking to". |
| Last year he redirected a significant slice of his wealth into cancer research, setting up the McClay Foundation to unite industry and academia. | |
| The McClay Foundation and Sir Allen became sole shareholders of the Craigavon-based Almac Group, which has a turnover of £167m. |