GlaxoSmithKline to close Dresden vaccine plant by 2028

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced it will close its vaccine manufacturing plant in Dresden, Germany, by mid-2028, ending 115 years of production at the site. The facility, which currently employs approximately 650 people, specializes in producing influenza and hepatitis vaccines, with weekly production cycles yielding about two million doses.

GSK cited weakened global demand and excess production capacity as the primary reasons for the closure. While influenza vaccine production will continue within the company’s network, it will be transitioned to a facility in Sainte-Foy, Canada.

The Dresden plant has a long history, founded in 1911 by entrepreneur Karl August Lingner. Following German reunification, the site was taken over in 1992 by SmithKline Beecham, a predecessor to the current GSK. The IG BCE union has expressed opposition to the decision, warning that the closure could result in the loss of highly specialized industrial jobs and critical pharmaceutical expertise within the Saxony region.