GSK strengthens presence in Asia

SINGAPORE – Recognizing the growing importance of vaccines in the world today, United Kingdom-based pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) opened here its first vaccine plant in Asia.

Vince Hingot, Site Director for GSK Biologicals Singapore said the plant is the company’s “largest vaccine investment in Asia and the first greenfield project outside Belgium.”

“This is to meet the growing global demand for vaccines,” Hingot said during GSK Asia’s media day here.

The opening of GSK’s plant last June marks the company’s 50th anniversary here. The plant is one of only two global sites dedicated to the production of bulk polysaccharides and conjugates that are used to manufacture the company’s new pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, meningitis and conjugates worldwide. The other site is in Belgium.

Journalists from all over Asia were shown the plant’s state-of-the-art machinery and equipment, quality control laboratories and other support facilities.

The plant will initially employ about 200 staff and the company is investing in training and development to equip them with skills and knowledge to operate the new facility, which is targeted to start commercial production in 2011.

Once operational, the primary vaccine plant will complement the biologicals global manufacturing network to serve as the nerve center of GSK’s production and supply of purified bulk polysaccharides and conjugated worldwide.

Polysaccharides are carbohydrates found in or made by living organisms and microbes. These are used to make vaccines.

GSK invested a total of S$600 million for the plant.

Cristophe Weber, Senior Vice President and Area Director of GSK Pharmaceuticals said the Singapore plant is not the last in Asia.

“There is a huge demand for healthcare in Asia Pacific. This is our first plant and not the last plant in the region,” he told reporters.

Filipino doctor and medical professor Lulu Bravo also said during the media day here that GSK’s vaccine plant is a significant investment in this era of deadly diseases.

Bravo said that developing countries like the Philippines are prone to diseases because of the lack of access to vaccines or poor knowledge on the benefits of immunization.

“The risk is 10 times higher in the developing world than in the industrialized world,” she said.

She said that around four million children still die each year from vaccine preventable diseases.

Bravo underscored the value of immunization, saying that approximately six million deaths are prevented worldwide because of vaccines.

As such, she said that governments should recognize this as an important part of the healthcare system.

GSK’s Weber, for his part that the company would continue with its investments in research and development to continue providing consumers worldwide with affordable vaccines.