Australian Moderna mRNA manufacturing facility to go ahead at Monash University
Onshore manufacturing of life-saving mRNA vaccines took a major step forward on Monday, with the Australian Government, Moderna and the Victorian Government finalising all arrangements for the ten-year partnership.
Under these new agreements, an mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility will be built at Monash University, helping protect Australians against future pandemics, supporting local industry and creating highly skilled local jobs.
Moderna will also establish its headquarters and a Regional Research Centre in Victoria. Once operational, the facility will be able to produce up to 100 million vaccine doses every year. Once this critical onshore mRNA capability is established, Australia will reduce its dependence on imported mRNA vaccines and our vulnerability to supply disruptions or delays.
It will give Australians local and ongoing access to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine – Spikevax – and give us an onshore mRNA manufacturing capability in the event of a new pandemic, such as avian influenza or another new pathogen, vaccine-resistant COVID-19 variants or a global resurgence of infections.
The partnership will lead to a world-class mRNA ecosystem based in Melbourne, attract highly skilled staff and expand local capability through joint ventures with leading Australian research organisations.
The factory will have capacity for 100 doses of mRNA vaccine annually, with the agreement providing “local and ongoing access” to Moderna’s Spikevax Covid-19 vaccine. It is expected to be operational in 2024, pending approvals.
The agreement would also deliver Australian mRNA production capability, and the possibility of developing both new vaccines and “a world-class mRNA ecosystem based in Melbourne” attracting highly-skilled staff and researchers.
“We look forward to being a part of the Monash Clayton precinct and contributing to the R&D ecosystem in Melbourne and across Australia,” said Moderna’s ANZ general manager Michael Azrak.