GSK's Ambad unit to start prodn by June

Glaxo SmithKline Biologicals (GSK)'s state-of-the-art vaccine manufacturing plant in Nashik is expected to commence operations by the end of June 2006.

This facility will commence with the production of DTP and Hepatitis B vaccine combination, Hepatitis A and B vaccines, respectively, sources said.

The Rs 55 crore plant will manufacture vaccines for the Indian market. GSK sells vaccines for diseases like rotavirus related gastroenteritis, malaria, TB, dengue fever, Hepatitis E and typhoid among others in India.

Currently, these vaccines are developed and produced at the company's vaccines headquarters and manufacturing facility at Rixensart, Belgium.

"The new vaccines facility, which conforms to the current Good Manufacturing Practices norms (GMP) has been built adjacent to its existing plant at Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Ambad, and will be operational by June 2006," company sources said.

At the facility, vaccines will be manufactured in two packages of 5 ml and 10 ml. Currently, the Indian vaccine market is estimated at Rs 300 crore.

The Nashik vaccines facility will be a 100 per cent subsidiary of the parent company GSK Pharma "� the only listed entity which will handle marketing for the vaccines. It is a sale and purchase arrangement and there will be no royalties involved, sources said.