The Irvine plant first faced difficulties back in 2009, when Teva recalled more than 57,000 bottles of injectable propofol after 41 reports of patients falling ill with flu-like symptoms. Some of the recalled vials of the sedative were found to be contaminated with endotoxin bacteria, which resulted in several lawsuits being filed over the drug. A warning was received from the FDA about violation of good manufacturing practice regulations.

The Israel-based drugmaker had axed all 200 jobs at the facility in January 2011 amid fears that the company would stop all production at the site.

Closure of the Irvine facility saw US$230 million shaved off Teva’s US$16.1 billion sales last year. A company spokeswoman said that it would take most of 2011 to restore injectables production at the plant to pre-closure levels.

This must come as a relief to Teva, which paid US$3.4 billion to acquire the plant’s US-based owner, Sicor, in 2004.

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