Reckitt Benckiser Group has acquired a pharmaceutical site in Wilson, which it will use to produce OTC medicines.
The newly purchased, 310,000 sqft facility will be responsible for the manufacture of the company's Mucinex brand tablets and liquids.
This facility is the company's largest manufacturing facility for over the counter medicines in the US, and will serve the consumer market in the region — as well as further afield — with medicines for the relief of cold and flu symptoms.
To ensure the supply chain of Mucinex is resilient, Reckitt is investing GBP £155m into the site, while also creating around 300 new jobs for those in the local area.
Cold and flu season shifts
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US adults will experience around two to three colds this year, with children getting sick even more frequently.
During the 2023–24 season, more than 40 million people were estimated to catch the flu, with 470,000 hospitalisations also occuring during this period.
Research has also suggested that the seasonality of the cold and flu season has shifted — with illnesses now occurring in mid-November and lasting well into January.
Therefore, solutions to reduce the burden of cold and flu season on both patients and the healthcare system are necessary.
Reckitt's Chief Supply Officer, Harald Emberger, commented: "Mucinex is our #1 over-the-counter product in the U.S. and the #1 global cough and decongestant medicine so, with the rise in demand for cold and flu relief, we are taking action to expand access to our products and build a more resilient supply chain,"
"The Wilson facility will greatly increase our Mucinex production capacity, localise more manufacturing and enable us to better serve our customers and consumers."
According to Reckitt, the company is also planning to invest in the site's further expansion — meaning it could support the production of two more OTC medicines: Move Free and Biofreeze.
"Each year, the burden of illness caused by respiratory viruses is unpredictable, and this has only intensified post pandemic," said Chris Tedesco, Senior Vice President, Health for North America, Reckitt.
"Demand for Mucinex products has increased over historical pre-pandemic averages, and the factory in Wilson enables us to increase access and meet future demand during in-season and off-season surges. We will service demand with greater agility, prepare for long-term growth and deliver new innovations like Mucinex Mighty Chews and Mucinex 2-in-1 Nasal Spray."