The Wall Street Journal recently reported major pharmaceutical companies have made deals valued at $20 billion dollars.
Much of that involves GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), whose North American vaccine operation will be based in the Bryan/College Station biocorridor.
Click HERE for The Wall Street Journal article (subscription may be required).
The point man in that relationship is the chief executive of the Texas A&M Health Science Center (HSC).
Dr. Brett Giroir took note of the Journal reporting GSK’s $5 billion dollar purchase of the vaccine portfolio of rival Novartis, saying that solidifies GSK’s position as the world’s leader in vaccines.
Dr. Giroir considers it an “exciting possibility” that GSK could produce the newly acquired vaccines in the biocorridor.
Giroir says recruitment continues to bring more manufacturers to the biocorridor; saying in the next several months the HSC will have major projects with smaller and medium sized companies and academic programs that are maturing which will bring economic development to the area.
But right now, Giroir says finishing the GSK vaccine production facility is the “primary goal”; adding construction is on budget and on schedule to start mass production by the end of 2018.
Dr. Giroir says of the continuing construction, “quality has to be impeccable” and it has to be executed and implemented “as flawlessly as possible”. “And if we do that, the rest of the future will weigh itself out.”
Dr. Brett Giroir visits with WTAW’s Bill Oliver, April 24 2014.