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news.British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is set to invest $100m to expand long-term vaccine manufacturing capabilities at its Hamilton facility in Montana, US.
Image: GSK's corporate headquarters in Brentford, London. Photo: courtesy of GlaxoSmithKline plc / flickr.
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The investment will help GSK to expand the production capacity of major components of the adjuvant system used in several of its vaccines such as Shingrix, which secured approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2017.
The company said that has been involved in developing vaccines for more than two decades to prevent malaria and shingles, which use adjuvant systems to help achieve a better immune response.
At present, the Hamilton vaccines facility is involved in the production of GSK’s essential adjuvant technologies. The current investment will help the company to further expand these capabilities, said GSK.
GSK US Pharmaceuticals president Jack Bailey said: “For more than a decade, our Hamilton facility has supported GSK’s adjuvant system development program.
“By expanding the adjuvant system production capabilities in Hamilton, we will continue to deliver long-term and sustainable supply for key vaccines, including SHINGRIX.”
The drugmaker said that the Hamilton site expansion is expected to add a combination of temporary construction and contracting jobs, and new permanent positions such as scientists, engineers and manufacturing and quality professionals over the next few years.
Hamilton is one of nine GSK manufacturing sites in the US and 86 sites across the globe. The company’s facilities are involved in the production of different prescription medicines, vaccines and consumer healthcare product.
Bailey further added: “Thanks to the bi-partisan support of Governor Steve Bullock and the congressional delegation – Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines and Rep. Greg Gianforte – Montana is emerging as a hub for the biotechnology industry.”
In January this year, the drugmaker acquired US-based oncology-focused biopharmaceutical firm Tesaro for $5.1bn (£4bn).
Tesaro is a commercial-stage firm that produces Zejula (niraparib), which is an oral poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor secured approval to treat ovarian cancer.
Tesaro’s acquisition helps GSK to strengthen its pharmaceutical business and expand its pipeline and commercial capability in oncology.
