GSK is planning to invest £200m in its UK manufacturing operations over the next two years.
As part of the plans between 2023 and 2025, GSK will improve its UK sites, including constructing new facilities and assembly lines. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical giant will also invest £67m revamping one of its Scottish factories, based in Montrose. This investment will help GSK improve production of the ingredients used to make a range of medicines.
Regis Simard, head of global supply chain, told the Mail on Sunday: “GSK has a proud heritage of making innovative medicines in the UK.
“Our six UK manufacturing sites, including Montrose, are an important part of our global manufacturing network and we’re continuously investing in science, technology and skills to deliver medicines faster and more efficiently.”
Earlier this month, GSK’s chief executive, Dame Emma Walmsley, hailed the UK economy as being “uniquely placed” to perform well in the life sciences sector due to its high concentration of academic skill and high-profile companies.
GSK’s latest investment announcement follows the opening of a new £65m drug factory in Ware, Hertfordshire, which is about to commence producing medicines developed through its research pipeline.
Meanwhile, GSK is actively boosting its growing respiratory diseases portfolio, just last week acquiring asthma drug maker Aiolos Bio in a deal worth up to $1.4bn.
GSK’s commitment to the UK is in stark contrast to rival Astrazeneca, whose CEO, Pascal Soriot, described it as “very unattractive for companies to invest.” Astrazeneca recently chose Ireland rather than north west England to be the home of its new £330m API facility because of the UK’s “discouraging” tax rate.
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