Gilead Sciences has planned a $47 million expansion of its Canadian pharmaceutical plant after its hepatitis C drug sofosbuvir moved closer to approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Fierce Biotech reports. An FDA advisory committee gave a thumbs-up to Gilead’s highly anticipated investigational drug by a 15-0 vote. The decision puts the new drug, which was attained through Gilead’s buyout of Pharmasset in 2011, potentially within weeks of FDA approval. Sofosbuvir is expected to lead the market for the first line of all-oral, interferon-free treatment regimens for hep C. Analysts are pegging peak annual sales at more than $5 billion. The plant in Edmonton, Alberta, will add 80 jobs, as well as 45,000 square feet of laboratory and research space.

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