GLAXOSMITHKLINE reported operating profits of almost £2.2bn for the quarter ending September 30.

Now the 1,000 workers who make drugs and skin creams at its Barnard Castle plant are waiting to hear if the company’s new biopharmaceutical plant will be based there, creating many more jobs.

Although sales of respiratory drugs fell two per cent to £1.7bn during the quarter, sales of Avamys/Veramyst, which is produced at Barnard Castle, rose 23 per cent to £50m.

Sales of GSK’s dermatology products, many of which are also produced there following the £2.5bn acquisition of US skin specialist Stiefel, grew by four per cent to £283m.

In March, GSK said it was to nearly double the amount of creams and ointments produced at the factory.

GSK’s overall revenues rose by three per cent to £7.1bn in the quarter, driven by a surge in cervical cancer vaccine Cervarix, especially in Japan, while Sensodyne revenues soared 23 per cent on the back of its new repair and protect toothpaste.

Andrew Witty, chief executive, said as the company develops treatments for Parkinson’s disease, hepatitis C and asthma set to launch, sales should accelerate in 2012.

It has nine treatments in latestage trials that are due to complete before the end of 2012 covering respiratory diseases, oncology, diabetes and HIV.

A decision on where the planned biopharmaceutical plant will be sited is expected early next year.