Nicola Sturgeon opens £54m pharmaceutical centre

A £54 million pharmaceutical production centre has been opened by the First Minister.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) will use the state-of-the-art building in Montrose, Angus, to manufacture ingredients for inhalers.

It follows the opening of the firm's £44m vaccines facility by Nicola Sturgeon on the site last year.

She said: “This new facility is testament to GSK's commitment to Montrose and reinforces the region's position alongside Singapore as the two sites producing APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients) for all of GSK's Ellipta respiratory inhaler portfolio.

“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.”

GSK chief executive Emma Walmsley said: “The state-of-the-art facility we are opening today represents a £54m 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."