GSK's vaccine unit at Nashik to start ops by June

The new, state-of-the-art vaccine manufacturing plant, built by Glaxo SmithKline Biologicals, the vaccine subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK), is expected to commence operations by the end of June 2006.

The plant, built with an investment of Rs 55 crore, will manufacture vaccines for the Indian market. GSK sells vaccines for gastro-enteritis, malaria, TB, dengue fever, Hepatitis-E and typhoid among others in India.

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

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

Vaccines will be manufactured in two packages of 5ml and 10 ml at the new manufacturing facility at Nashik. The facility will commence production with a combination of DPT and Hepatitis B vaccine, and Hepatitis A and B vaccines, sources said.

The Indian vaccines market is estimated at Rs 300 crore. While the
Nashik facility will be a 100% subsidiary of GSK Plc, marketing would be handled by the listed entity - GSK Pharma. It is a sale and purchase arrangement and there will be no royalties involved, sources said.