Global healthcare company GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd, the Indian unit of UK-based Glaxosmithkline Plc (GSK) is investing INR 1,000 crore in a new state-of-the-art pharmaceutical unit in Karnataka and is looking at enhancing its global pipeline in areas like respiratory drugs and vaccines in India.
“We are investing Rs 1,000 crore in a new state-of-the- art pharmaceutical factory in Vemgal, Karnataka. The factory will initially supply a range of solid dose form products. The factory will commence production in 2018 and produce more than 8 billion tablets and 1 billion capsules a year,” the company said in its annual report.
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.
“We will focus on securing reliable supply of our high- quality medicines to patients through our manufacturing facility in Nashik, Maharashtra and our upcoming facility in Vemgal, Karnataka. We will continue to bring the best of our innovative global pipeline in areas like respiratory and vaccines to our patients in India. We fully support the government in their efforts to increase access to affordable medicines to improve healthcare and we are very excited to begin work on what will become our largest manufacturing facility in India,”
GSK India managing director A Vaidheesh said.The company headquartered at Brentford in London, has five facilities here in India, employs over 8,300 people in the country, and reportedly has a turnover of Rs.2,653 crore for the year ended 31 March and a market share of 3.48%.
