GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) vaccine plant near Budapest has passed an audit by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowing it to export products to North America, GSK Biologicals managing director Vincent Loret said at a press conference on Thursday.
GSK is developing three new products which it hopes to start making at the Hungarian plant in 1-2 years, Mr Loret said. Other GSK plants are competing for the production, but the FDA audit gives the plant in Hungary an advantage, he added.
The plant is competing for the production with units in Singapore, Dresden, Belgium and North America.
The new production would create 30-40 workplaces at the plant in Godollo, said GSK Pharma managing director Gyorgy Leitner.
The plant currently employs 240 people.
The plant now makes vaccines for diptheria and tetanus. All of its output is exported.
GSK has been in Hungary since 2003. It inaugurated the vaccine plant in 2006.
GKSI has not yet recouped the EUR 130m it has invested in Hungary, Mr Loret said.
In addition to production, GSK also carries out clinical trials in Hungary, spending about HUF 3.5bn in the segment over the past five years.
GSK Pharma, GSK’s drug unit in Hungary, had turnover of HUF 27bn in 2009, 7pc more than in 2008, Mr Leitner said, answering a question.