This acquisition adds to the company’s growing vaccines presence in the US, following GSK’s recent purchase of Corixa Corporation, a developer of innovative vaccine adjuvants that increase immune response.
“We expect to develop new flu vaccine technology at our Marietta facility that we hope will enhance our future ability to rapidly produce flu vaccines for the nation in response to a pandemic. This new technology will complement our current egg-based flu vaccine manufacturing.” said JP Garnier, CEO of GlaxoSmithKline.
The 90-acre manufacturing site in Marietta, PA, previously owned by Wyeth, will be used to help develop the next generation of vaccines for GlaxoSmithKline. The Marietta site also will focus on the development and production of tissue culture technology that will be used for seasonal and pandemic flu vaccines.
GSK expects to use the Marietta site for the secondary production of several new vaccines for distribution in the US market, following their approval by the FDA. The site has freeze-drying capabilities that will be used to enhance the shelf life and stability of a number of the company’s vaccines.