GSK invests $120m in genetics-focused US manufacturing hub
The $120m (€109m) investment will be used to expand its existing manufacturing facility in Upper Merion, Pennsylvania.
As part of the expansion, the company will house the R&D and manufacturing teams in one facility, with a focus on gene therapies.
According to the company, this will allow the two to research potential genetic targets and then manufacture them in a ‘seamless’ fashion; the benefits of the teams working together would be the ability to use the same equipment, data, and analytics, which could reduce the time needed to produce new medicines.
In terms of the facility itself, the company stated that the manufacturing space would utilize single-use and disposable components for greater flexibility in being able to switch production between different medicines.
The products produced by the facility will initially all be clinical assets. The focus on potential genetic-focused treatments fits in with GSK’s strategy of investing more into early-stage research in the area.
The Upper Merion expansion comes as part of a wider $400m project that GSK has used to expand its manufacturing capabilities across its vaccine and specialty medicine portfolio.
Emma Walmsley, CEO of GSK, said, “These investments will support and accelerate the transformation of our pipeline to deliver the next generation of medicines and vaccines for patients who need them.”
In April 2019, GSK announced that it would spend $100m to increase production capacity for its Shingrix vaccine, used to prevent the shingles virus. The improved capacity was required for the product after demand outstripped supply.
