By Jim Shamp, Senior Editor
ZEBULON, N.C. -- North Carolina's pharmaceutical companies don't have far to go to get world-class drug manufacturing help.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH GSK ZEBULON'S PHIL PRIEST
GlaxoSmithKline, for example, is hanging out the "for hire" shingle, offering to do contract work for anyone from clinic-ready start-ups to established drug makers.
Phil Priest, vice president and site director with the company's Global Manufacturing & Supply group, said GSK's state-of-the-art site here has had good experiences with limited manufacturing of other companies' products, and now stands ready to expand that offering. (SEE VIDEO)
The Zebulon facility primarily supplies GSK's North American markets with solid-dose drugs, such as tablets and capsules; inhalants; and packaging. Priest said the facility is mainly equipped to handle small-molecule drugs rather than biologicals, but the site's expertise and capabilities might support a wide range of production needs.
"I don't think many others know that GSK is interested in doing this," said the British-born Priest, who has been at the helm of the Zebulon plant since January, after serving in a number of other GSK posts around the globe.
"We have done some solid-dose production for others," he said, "but this state-of-the-art facility has a very capable technical organization that can handle batch solids, granulation and drying, you name it. This facility averages one product launch a year, so our people can bring a lot of expertise to our clients."
Priest says the plant is prepared to take on the full range of production in all dosage forms, from clinical trial supplies through launch of a new pharmaceutical and its global supply needs. More information is available by calling Priest at (919) 269-1069 or by sending an e-mail to phil.r.priest@gsk.com.
"We're proud of our 'voice of the customer' mentality," he said, "meaning we provide service, quality and cost advantages. Some might be surprised to hear that a large company like GSK can be competitive in this way, especially on cost. But we're ready to prove it."
GSK's North American headquarters is in Research Triangle Park.