GlaxoSmithline (GSK) has begun construction on a new meningococcal B vaccine manufacturing plant in Marburg, Germany, in which the company is investing EUR 162 million ($172 million). GSK broke ground on the new site in March 2017.

With the construction of the new manufacturing plant, GSK will be moving production for three of the four active components of the meningococcal B vaccine to Marburg. Validation runs for meningococcal B antigen production are planned for the third quarter of 2020.

GSK’s vaccines business had 2016 sales of £4.6 billion ($5.7 billion). The company’s meningococcal B vaccine, Bexsero, which GSK gained through its $7.1-billion acquisition of Novartis’ non-influenza vaccines business in 2015 , had 2016 sales of £390 million ($483 million).

Source: GlaxoSmithKline