US pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Moderna has opened a new vaccine manufacturing facility in the Australian state of Victoria.
Located at Monash University’s Clayton campus in southeast Melbourne, it is the Southern Hemisphere’s only mRNA manufacturing facility and Moderna’s first in the Southern Hemisphere. It will have the capacity to produce up to 100 million vaccine doses each year for respiratory diseases including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and Covid-19.
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“Monash University is a leader in the development of mRNA and RNA therapeutics and is at the heart of the thriving mRNA innovation ecosystem established around our Clayton campus that now includes Moderna’s new vaccine manufacturing facility,” said Professor Sharon Pickering, vice-chancellor and president of Monash University.
The development was backed by the Australian and Victorian governments with a view to ensuring “world-class mRNA vaccines and medicines” can be made in Australia and creating jobs. There were 500 jobs supported during the construction phase, with Moderna’s Australian operations to create 140 highly-skilled roles and a further 500 expected to be supported across advanced medical manufacturing, R&D, supply chains and the broader workforce.
Speaking yesterday (4 December), Michael Azrak, general manager for Australia and New Zealand at Moderna, said: “Today’s opening is a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration and dedication. I’m incredibly proud that Moderna has been able to deliver this landmark facility to produce vaccines in Australia for Australians, a significant investment into the country’s biosecurity by our company. We are grateful to the Australian and Victorian governments who have been pivotal in bringing this to fruition.”
The facility is the result of a 10-year partnership between the Australian Government, Victorian Government and Moderna to advance Australia’s sovereign manufacturing and R&D capability in mRNA medicines and therapeutics.
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By GlobalDataMinister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler commented: “This is a major step forward in helping protect Australians against future pandemics while creating highly skilled jobs, supporting local industry and promoting research collaboration.
“Covid taught us how important it is to have the capability to manufacture the latest vaccines here in Australia.
“The Albanese Government is building Australia’s future with this world-leading facility, ensuring we have the sovereign manufacturing capability Australia needs to produce the latest vaccines.”
Moderna follows BioNTech in establishing a major hub in Victoria, with the state now the only place in the world where both host R&D and manufacturing operations. It boasts a total medical research workforce of over 30,000. Moderna’s new facility is expected to produce its first mRNA vaccines in 2025.
