Glaxo to produce vaccines at Nashik

Patrick Florent, VP(global industrial operations) of GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, today laid the foundation stone for GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals' state-of-the-art vaccines facility at Nashik.

According to a release issued by GSK Pharma to the BSE today, the plant, conforming to international current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) norms, is expected to commence operations by early 2006.

"Vaccines for India are currently developed, produced, filled and packaged at the company's vaccines headquarters and manufacturing facility at Rixensart, Belgium," the release said.

The new facility will be located adjacent to the company's existing pharmaceutical plant at Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Ambad, Nashik. "This will be GSK's first manufacturing site to co-house a pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing," the release said.

S. Kalyanasundaram, MD of GSK India and VP (South Asia) of GSK International, said: "The day marks a historic milestone for GSK in India. Unlike developed countries, the disease burden from infectious diseases falls on patients in developing countries due to the lack of an adequate social security system to cover the costs of treatment. This makes use of preventive health technologies (PHTs) highly valuable in the Indian context. This new vaccine facility reflects the company's commitment to India and recognises the high quality skills and science base in India."