Moderna’s planned manufacturing site in the United Kingdom will be able to churn out 250 million vaccine doses annually, the company said on Thursday, revealing more about its partnership with the government, which has been in the works for nearly a year.
As for the exact location of the facility? Stay tuned.
The company—which has evolved from clinical-stage biotech to commercial powerhouse with the rapid development of its COVID-19 vaccine—said it has finalized its 10-year deal with the U.K. after reaching an agreement in principle six months ago.
Construction on the mRNA research, development and manufacturing site will begin in early 2023, with it due to become operational by 2025. The site will produce COVID-19 vaccines and “future respiratory virus vaccine candidates,” Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said in a release.
News of a potential deal was first reported by the Financial Times in February of this year. At the time, the newspaper reported that Moderna was seeking a site in England’s “Golden Triangle" life sciences epicenter which includes London, Cambridge and Oxford.
The Moderna Innovation and Technical Centre (MITC) also will serve for pandemic preparedness, with the ability to flex to tackle emerging health threats. The country’s “100 Days Mission” is designed to reduce the impact of future pandemics.
Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. It is expected that the facility will create 150 new jobs.
Moderna has wasted little time going global. Last month, Moderna broke ground on a similar, smaller-scale manufacturing site near Montreal, Canada. The company also has forged a deal for a facility in Australia and agreed to build a $500 million plant in Kenya, which could eventually produce up to 500 million doses of injectables.