GSK Pharma's Bengaluru facility to be operational by 2017

GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (GSK India) has said its greenfield manufacturing facility at Bengaluru, having an installed capacity of over 9 billion tablets and capsules per year, will be operational by 2017.
"The company has decided to create a new greenfield manufacturing site at Vemgal near Bengaluru, to be operational by 2017.
"Initially, the site will supply a range of solid dose form products. The unit will have an installed annual capacity of over 9 billion tablets and capsules to supply in the local market," the company said in its annual report.
The new site, which represents up to Rs 1,000 crore in investments, will be the first greenfield pharma site GSK has built across the globe over the past 10 years.

The state-of-the-art site will be the first factory designed for the new GSK production systems, it added.
The new unit is part of the strategic plan to rationalize,

streamline and reduce costs in the supply network, whilst increasing capacity to meet the growing demands for important medicines, the company said.
GSK India is also upgrading the Nashik site by investing in infrastructure across all areas with special focus on good manufacturing practices (GMP), safety and sustainability.
The company's Nashik facility, continuing its journey on roadmap of long-term strategy, has made significant progress in terms of building capability. It has completed enhancement of the existing Eltroxin facility in safety standards.

The unit is ready to launch new products in Bactroban creams early next year.
GSK India is enjoying a leadership position in the therapy
areas in which it provides healthcare solutions to patients.
The specialty business continued to make rapid strides during the year with strong leadership position in therapy areas like dermatology.
"The company has endeavoured to bring the latest in pharmaceuticals, both from the parent company as well as through licensing opportunities. The company hopes to increase its healthcare impact through entry in new therapeutic areas as well as channels," said GSK India managing director H B Joshipura.

In the current year, the company has launched medicine for
metastatic colorectal cancer from one of its licensor partners.
A recent transaction with Novartis will see the transfer of oncology business to Novartis and in return, GSK will receive a market leading vaccine for dog bites, apart from addition to its portfolio of vaccines for meningitis, Joshipura added.