Pharmaceutical giant to build plant in Triangle

BASEL, Switzerland The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services granted the eight-year contract to build and run a vaccine manufacturing site in Holly Springs.

The company said it will employ over 300 people by 2012.

The plant will be used to develop a new flu vaccine using cell cultures.

The facility will serve a double function, producing vaccine to inoculate people from seasonal flu and adding to U.S. government preparedness against an influenza pandemic.

In order to add to preparedness, the plant would need to produce 150 million doses of vaccine within six months.