Drug giant GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK), which is laying off hundreds of people in Research Triangle Park and Pennsylvania, is going to build a new research and development center for vaccines in Maryland.
GSK announced the project on Thursday.
Media reports say GSK will eventually add hundreds of jobs at the center in Rockville when it opens later this year, perhaps as early as September.
GSK is beefing up its vaccine business after acquiring the vast line of work done in that field by Novartis through an asset swap.
Noted Luc Debruyne, president of GSK Vaccines: “As the global vaccines leader, GSK is on the cutting edge of vaccine development. Following the acquisition of Novartis’s global vaccines business and in recognition of the vaccines knowledge and expertise in the United States, we are pleased to expand our US presence with the creation of a world-class vaccines R&D centre. This will drive innovation, and enhance our capabilities for new vaccine discoveries that protect the US and public health around the world.”
GSK will operate other vaccine hubs in Rixensart, Belgium and in Siena, Italy, a which is a former Novartis site.
