British healthcare firm GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is to invest £110 million in its Montrose site to develop a new, state-of-the-art facility for the manufacture of respiratory active ingredients.

The Montrose plant manufactures active ingredients for respiratory, HIV and vaccine products and employs 450 staff.

The Montrose plan is part of a £275 million investment by GSK in three of its UK sites.

The other investments will be at Barnard Castle, Co. Durham and Ware, Hertfordshire.

GSK has a significant manufacturing presence in the UK, with nine sites employing 6,000 people.

Andrew Witty, CEO, GSK said: “Today’s announcement reflects further investment to support our pharmaceutical pipeline and meet growing demand for our innovative portfolio of newly launched products.

“It is testament to our skilled UK workforce and the country’s leading position in life sciences that we are making these investments in advanced manufacturing here.

“From their manufacture in the UK, many of these medicines will be sent to patients around the world.”