GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced that it is expanding its ability to increase vaccines supplies for Americans by acquiring a vaccine research and production facility in Marietta, Pennsylvania. This acquisition adds to the company's growing vaccines presence in the United States, following GSK's recent purchase of Corixa Corporation, a developer of innovative vaccine adjuvants that increase immune response.

"GlaxoSmithKline can help boost the availability of vaccines for Americans in the future by growing our research and manufacturing capacity in Pennsylvania and the United States today," said JP Garnier, Chief Executive Officer of GlaxoSmithKline. "We are working hand-in-hand with government officials to help meet public health needs by expanding our capabilities as a reliable supplier of vaccines for the US."

Garnier continued: "We expect to develop new flu vaccine technology at our Marietta facility that we hope will enhance our future ability to rapidly produce flu vaccines for the nation in response to a pandemic. This new technology will complement our current egg-based flu vaccine manufacturing."

The 90-acre manufacturing site in Marietta, PA, previously owned by Wyeth, will be used to help develop the next generation of vaccines for GlaxoSmithKline. The Marietta site also will focus on the development and production of tissue culture technology that will be used for seasonal and pandemic flu vaccines.

GSK expects to use the Marietta site for the secondary production of several new vaccines for distribution in the US market, following their approval by the FDA. The site has freeze-drying capabilities that will be used to enhance the shelf life and stability of a number of the company's vaccines.

Terms of the acquisition are confidential. Once a new flu vaccine based on tissue culture is successfully developed by GSK, the company plans to make further investments at the Marietta plant. GSK expects to employ approximately 270 people at the Marietta site.

"I am pleased that GSK will be reopening the Marietta facility, thanks in great part to the support of Governor Rendell and his staff, as well as that of other state, federal and local officials," Garnier said.

Source: GlaxoSmithKline

− Ground-breaking held for new 145,000 square-foot manufacturing plant in Swiftwater, PA −

Work officially began on July 20th on the construction of a new sanofi pasteur manufacturing facility that will expand the ability of the United States to produce influenza vaccine for both routine influenza immunization and in case of a global influenza pandemic. Sanofi pasteur is the vaccines business of the sanofi-aventis Group . Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell was joined by company executives, federal, state and local officials in breaking ground for sanofi pasteur's new 145,000 square-foot, $150 million manufacturing plant.

The new facility is expected to be completely online, validated and ready for production for the 2009 influenza season. The plant will replace an existing facility in Swiftwater, and will double the site's capability for producing influenza vaccine. As a result of the project, it is expected that more than 100 new production jobs will be created at sanofi pasteur's U.S. headquarters in Swiftwater.

"Sadly, 36,000 people die each year as a result of contracting influenza," said Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA). "This facility will contribute strongly to the public health of our nation, as it will help provide an adequate supply of influenza vaccines that will be available for future influenza seasons and the millions of Americans who receive the vaccine every year. Additionally, it will create quality jobs in northeastern Pennsylvania and benefit the entire region's economy."

"The Commonwealth has great respect for sanofi pasteur -- a company that has continued to grow and expand right here in Pennsylvania while protecting and saving lives each and every day," said Governor Rendell, in comments delivered at the event. "It is this type of business growth within high- technology areas, combined with a responsive state and local government and targeted federal support, which will help solidify a promising and competitive future for Pennsylvania for generations."

From December of 1999 to June 2005, sanofi pasteur has added 870 new jobs and invested more than $200 million in capital expansion at the 276-acre campus located in Pocono Township in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Some 1,500 employees currently work at the site, which contains the only injectable influenza vaccine manufacturing facility in the U.S.

The construction of the new influenza plant is part of sanofi pasteur's continued commitment toward reliable planning and production of influenza vaccine, both in the U.S. and abroad. As part of these efforts, the company is participating in a number of important initiatives for pandemic planning, and was awarded four related contracts with the United States government, including a $97 million contract to accelerate the development of cell-culture technology for influenza vaccines.

The Swiftwater site, under various owners, has produced influenza vaccine for 58 years. Today the company manufactures several versions and presentations of Fluzone(R) Influenza Virus Vaccine, including the only influenza vaccine approved for use in the U.S. for children 6 to 35 months of age. In addition to Fluzone vaccine, sanofi pasteur manufactures Vaxigrip(R) Influenza Virus Vaccine at a facility located in Val de Reuil, France, which is licensed for use outside the U.S.

Source: sanofi pasteur

On behalf of Gov. Edward G. Rendell, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Yablonsky presented $1 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funds to support construction of the Windber Research Institute.

“I am pleased to announce an additional $1 million in RACP funding to support construction of the Windber Research Institute, a world-class, state-of-the-art biomedical research facility,” Yablonsky said. “The commonwealth is committed to innovation and the advances and products that emerge from our life sciences industry will ensure Pennsylvania's leadership in the biomedical marketplace."

The state funding will be used for construction costs of the 40,000-square-foot facility near the Windber Medical Center. The Windber Research Institute will relocate from its former 6,000-square-foot facility. The Windber Research Institute, located on the campus of Windber Medical Center, is a world-class, state-of-the-art biomedical research facility that has embarked on the challenge of finding cures for genetic and metabolic diseases. In 2003, Rendell presented $2 million in RACP funds for the project. The new facility will accommodate 330 created or retained jobs once it is fully occupied. Of those, 175 jobs will be directly related to WRI. Another 155 jobs will be created through Windber Professional Services that will target start-up biotechnology companies for incubator space in the building.

The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) is a commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic and historical improvement projects. The $640 million in RACP funding approved by the legislature in July 2004 is a vital component of the governor’s economic stimulus package, which leverages $2.3 billion in grants, loans and guarantees over the next three years to generate an anticipated $5 billion in private-sector investment to support communities and businesses throughout the commonwealth. Since February 2003, Rendell has issued a total of $522 million in RACP grants for projects in 47 counties.

Source: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s (BFTP/NEP) Board of Directors has approved the investment of $723,441 in support of regional economic development, pending the release of funds under its allocation from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. This is the first funding round in the new July 1 to June 30th fiscal year. The investments are with four early stage companies, four established manufacturers, and eight business incubators/research facilities located throughout Ben Franklin’s 19 county service area.

Life Science investments include:

SDR Pharmaceuticals, East Stroudsburg, Monroe County
Ben Franklin Investment: $100,000

Project: SDR Pharmaceuticals produces a new class of cancer tumor- targeted radiosensitizing medications. Radiosensitizers are drugs that make radiation therapy more effective. These new agents are up to 500 times more effective than the current drugs, and are comparatively non-toxic. This investment will allow SDR to identify a method for preparing the lead compound in the medication, as well as profiling the expected purity, yield, stability, and solubility of the product.

Source: Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania