To meet the growing demand for pediatric and adult vaccines, GSK is investing more than 500 million euros in a vaccine manufacturing plant to increase production in formulation, filling, freeze-drying, and packaging.
The facility, located in St. Amand-Les Eaux, will contribute to the production of a Cervarix, a candidate vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer. The company is waiting for results of a Phase III clinical trial before it files Cervarix in the U.S. market.
GSK's new meningitis vaccines will also be manufactured at this site as well as a new flu vaccine to protect against seasonal influenza and a pediatric vaccine to protect against streptococcus pneumonia.
The new site will house a freeze-drying plant, which will transform vaccines from a liquid to a solid powder. This operation is used to enhance the shelf life and stability of a number of GSK's vaccines. The site will also be equipped with a liquid plant for filling syringes and vials, a packing plant and warehouse, a power plant, and quality control laboratories. The facility is expected to open in 2011.
