GSK opens £54m API plant in Montrose, Scotland

British multinational GlaxoSmithKline has opened an API manufacturing plant in Montrose Scotland for its Ellipta respiratory medicines.

The new facility will work alongside the company’s site in Singapore to provide API’s for a range of respiratory drugs. The new plant represents a £54 million investment from the London-headquartered company.

However the highly automated facility is not expected to create a large number of jobs.

Nevertheless, the company which employs 1,000 people in Scotland and 17,000 across the UK was described as a "fantastic endorsement" for Scotland as a location for business by Steve Dunlop, Scottish Enterprise CEO.

"The opening of this new facility is a fantastic endorsement of Scotland as a business location," Dunlop said.

"Global companies like GSK choose to invest here because we have unrivalled talent to research, develop and manufacture innovative medicines that positively impact lives all over the world. We’ll continue to help GSK grow its business locally and nationally to create sustainable and inclusive jobs, and recognise its significant contribution to Scotland’s thriving life sciences sector."

Meanwhil GSK CEO Emma Walmsley, commented: "The state-of-the-art facility we are opening today represents a £54 million investment in GSK Montrose and is testament to the highly-skilled workforce at the site. It also highlights the important part Montrose will play in our future growth, based around our latest medicines for respiratory, HIV and vaccines."

"GSK has a substantial manufacturing presence in Scotland and we’re delighted to welcome the First Minister back to Montrose to mark the next phase of our investment in Angus, and in Scotland’s growing life sciences industry."

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon added that "Scotland has a thriving life sciences community making a significant contribution to the quality of care and health of people in Scotland and around the globe. This immensely innovative sector provides huge economic benefit to Scotland and, with a highly skilled workforce, makes us well placed to take advantage of the economic opportunities from innovation and technological change."