GSK confirms planned changes at Scottish API plant

GSK has confirmed it plans to make changes at its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) facility in Irvine in North Ayrshire, Scotland.

The week the Scottish press reported that GSK plans to eliminate 55 jobs at the facility – which makes APIs for drugs like the antibiotic Augmentin.

A GSK spokesperson confirmed changes to operations are planned, but he declined to provide specific details.

GSK Irvine is vital to our medicines manufacturing network around the world, and will continue to remain so. Following a review of our work at the site, we are proposing to make some changes to the site which will potentially impact a small number of employees.”

We have spoken with colleagues and will support those impacted by the news, consulting with them and their representatives appropriately over the coming months,” he said.

The news comes a year after GSK said  it would create 55 jobs at the facility. At the time it cited growing demand for antibiotics in developing countries.

The spokesman also told us "the review of GSK Irvine and the proposed changes are not related to Brexit."