GSK to close Dartford manufacturing site by 2013
pharmafile | November 14, 2008 | News story | Manufacturing and Production |Â Â GSKÂ
GlaxoSmithKline has announced plans to close its manufacturing site in Dartford in the UK, with operations being phased out over four years.
The proposed closure is subject to consultation with trade union and staff representatives, and will result in the loss of around 620 established roles in Dartford, with final closure expected in 2013.
The company says the closure is due to a major fall in demand expected for the site's two largest products, epilepsy treatment Lamictal and Valtrex for herpes, which are now off patent or approaching patent expiry in most countries.
The drugs account for 60% of total volumes manufactured at the site and GSK says no new drugs will replace them at the same level, making the factory no longer viable.
The production of a number of existing products are to be transferred to other manufacturing companies, while newer products proposed for the site will be moved to other GSK sites.
Joe Foley, Dartford site director, said: "GSK regrets the impacts this proposal would have on employees and the local community, with whom we have built strong links over many years. As always, we will treat employees fairly and will provide appropriate support to help our staff through this difficult period.
"The proposal is no reflection on the professionalism and commitment of Dartford employees, but that of the fiercely competitive environment in which the pharmaceutical industry operates."
The closure of the Dartford site will still leave GSK with five other pharmaceutical manufacturing sites in England and a further two in Scotland.
The job losses follow hundreds more in other divisions of the company, which, like all its peers in big pharma, is undertaking a major streamlining of operations.
Earlier this month GSK announced the axeing of around 1,000 jobs in its US salesforce, reducing the total number to approximately 7,500. In October it announced 850 jobs were to go in early-stage research and development at sites across the world, including the UK.
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