MARIETTA, PA-GlaxoSmithKline has acquired the now-idle, former 90-acre Wyeth vaccine production facility here in Lancaster County. Its total investment, including acquisition and retrofitting, is estimated at $100 million.

GSK will use the facility to develop and produce flu vaccines using a new tissue culture technology. It will create at least 270 jobs at the plant within five years, adding to the 6,900 people it already employs throughout the commonwealth.

Pennsylvania provided the pharmaceutical giant, which has its US headquarters at Research Triangle Park, NC, with an incentive package of just over $4.6 million. That includes an Opportunity grant of almost $1.4 million, an Infrastructure Development Program grant of nearly $1.3 million, about $1.4 million in job creation tax credits and $675,000 in job training assistance. The Governor's Action Team arranged the funding package. GSK also obtained $1.5 million from the Life Science Greenhouse of Central Pennsylvania to help with relocation costs.

In addition to developing and producing new vaccines, GSK will provide freeze-drying capabilities that will be used to enhance the shelf life of a number of its current vaccines. JP Garnier, CEO of GSK, in a statement, says the company "made a commitment to increase our vaccine research and production capabilities to help government officials plan for future public health needs."