GSK closes Legionella-hit US site
pharmafile | August 14, 2015 | News story | Manufacturing and Production | GSK, Legionnaire's disease, legionella, manufacturing, production
GSK has temporarily shut down its manufacturing site in North Carolina due to the discovery of the bacteria which causes Legionnaires disease in its cooling tower.
The company has begun decontaminating the site and anticipates “resuming production in the next 72 hours after cleaning, disinfecting, and returning the plant back to normal operating conditions.”
The site in Zebulon, North Carolina, is one of the leading production centres for GSK in the US. It is thought that the building that houses the cooling tower is situated in a standalone structure, and did not come into contact with drugs which are produced in the facility.
Nearly 600 staff were sent home as a precautionary measure and others were told not to come into work whilst the tower was being cleaned. In total around 850 people are employed at the site.
The plant is where GSK manufactures some of its best-selling products such as its leading respiratory drugs. However, the company said that there was no impact on supplies of its Advair (fluticasone proprionate) or Ellipta (fluticasone furoate/vilanterol) medications along with others manufactured at the site.
GSK are confident that the bacteria has been isolated and kept in the tower after routine testing and says: “GSK is taking these precautions to ensure the health and safety of our employees, as well as the safety and integrity of our products,” it said, adding that the company was “working to rectify and restore operations as soon as possible”.
The airborne disease, Legionnaires’ disease, can be caught by breathing in the bacteria present in a mist or vapour but cannot be transmitted person to person.
Last year, GSK announced that it will be restructuring its US business model which is part of a one billion pound cost-saving plan by cutting 900 research and commercial jobs in North Carolina, and consolidating more of its US operations in Philadelphia.
The change in model came due to insurers and healthcare providers setting soaring costs on healthcare in the US which has resulted in tough pricing for drug companies.
Yasmita Kumar
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