GSK Unveils GBP275M Investment Plans in UK Manufacturing

GlaxoSmithKline has announced plans to invest £275 million at three manufacturing sites in the United Kingdom, with the aim of boosting production and supporting the delivery of the company’s respiratory and biopharmaceuticals portfolio. The vast majority of these products will be for export to global markets.

GSK has nine sites employing approximately 6000 staff in the UK. According to the pharmaceutical firm, UK is an attractive location for investment in advanced manufacturing driven by the skilled workforce, technological and scientific capabilities and infrastructure, and a competitive corporate tax system. The Patent Box, for example, encourages investment in R&D and related manufacturing in the UK by delivering a lower rate of corporation tax on profits generated from UK-owned intellectual property. 

The investment will be split across three UK sites:

• £92 million will be used to fund the construction of an aseptic sterile facility at Barnard Castle in County Durham, for the manufacture of existing and new biopharmaceutical assets. This site is one of GSK’s biggest secondary manufacturing sites, supplying nearly half a million packs of products per day to 140 global markets.

• Approximately £110 million will be invested in a new, state-of-the-art facility for the manufacture of respiratory active ingredients in Montrose in Angus in Scotland. This site manufactures APIs for respiratory, HIV, and vaccine products.

• £74 million will be used to expand the manufacturing capacity of GSK’s new Ellipta respiratory inhaler in Ware, Hertfordshire. This site manufactures respiratory products.

It is expected that with the construction of these new facilities in place, GSK will lead in the creation of new employment opportunities.

Source: GSK