GSK Makes Record $800M Investment US Investment in PA
GlaxoSmithKline struck a deal with Pennsylvania and the township of Marietta, Pennsylvania, this week to relieve it of taxes on an $800,000,000 investment to build the expansion of its drug plant on the banks of the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County. The investment is the largest GSK has made in the US.
From GSK’s press release:
“The new multi-purpose facility will be capable of manufacturing sterile liquid vaccines and medicines for which there is ever-increasing demand. This facility will also house a state-of-the-art R&D pilot plant to manufacture medicines for clinical trials. Additionally, GSK will establish a new vaccines drug substance facility at the site, dedicated to manufacturing products based on the company’s novel MAPS technology, subsequent to future regulatory submissions and approvals. This expansion will double the size and capacity of the Marietta site.”
The facility that currently occupies the site mostly packages drugs and vaccines manufactured in GSK’s other locations. This major expansion will make Marietta the largest plant for the international drug company. This facility is part of GSK’s efforts to expand its production capabilities, particularly for biologics and vaccines. The investment reflects a significant commitment to advancing their manufacturing infrastructure in the U.S. and demonstrates the company’s expectations for significant growth in the US.
The facility is to be completed in 2027. A new research and manufacturing facility is expected to be completed in 2028. The project received land development approval from the East Donegal Township supervisors in September.
Although GSK secured various permits related to environmental compliance, such as wastewater and emissions monitoring through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and compliance with Pennsylvania’s environmental tracking systems the many pharmaceutical plants in PA are situated next to major rivers, like the Susquehanna, and are allowed to routinely wash out their tanks, vats and other equipment into the state’s rivers.