Global biotherapeutics leader CSL Limited has today announced the opening of the new Corporate Office for its global influenza vaccine business Seqirus [Sek-eer-us] here in the United Kingdom.
The new business is a result of CSL's acquisition of Novartis' influenza vaccine business that has been integrated with CSL's existing influenza business bioCSL. Seqirus is the world's second largest producer of influenza vaccines, with a commercial presence in approximately 20 countries, a differentiated product portfolio and manufacturing facilities in the United States, Australia and United Kingdom. The business is led by President Gordon Naylor, who previously served as CSL's Chief Financial Officer.
The Seqirus Corporate Office is located at the Point building in Maidenhead and its establishment will create over 100 managerial and highly skilled jobs in the Thames Valley.
CSL's decision to locate the Corporate Office for Seqirus in the UK was taken following an in-depth analysis of potential global locations which included comparisons across the UK and internationally of business costs, skills availability, infrastructure and business environment, and other strategic factors as well as specific location options. Support on developing the local aspects of the UK proposition was provided by the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Leader of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
President of Seqirus, Gordon Naylor, said: "We are delighted to establish our company base in the UK, which provides excellent access to both our major manufacturing facilities and key customers around the world. We are confident that positioning our headquarters here will enhance the important partnerships we have with the UK and other governments to support pandemic preparedness and emergency response, along with our goal to provide more people with protection against the burden of seasonal influenza".
Attending the formal office opening today, Home Secretary and Member of Parliament for Maidenhead, Mrs Theresa May MP said: "It is a pleasure to open the Seqirus office here in Maidenhead. They join a significant cluster of Life Sciences and Healthcare businesses that have chosen Maidenhead as their base, drawn here by a highly skilled workforce and specialist talent pool, connectivity to London Heathrow, proximity to the world's leading research institutions (University of Oxford) and some of the country's best quality of living. It is an endorsement too of the collective efforts of UKTI and local partners in supporting the business in its decision to invest in Maidenhead, the Thames Valley and the UK. "
"The new Seqirus business operates in a key sector and in key markets – playing a role in UK and global health," said Dr Mark Treherne, CEO of UKTI's Life Sciences Organisation (LSO). "UKTI and our local partners in the Thames Valley were delighted to support CSL in making the decision to base Seqirus' operational hub in the UK, and we will continue to work with the company as they settle in and grow as a business."
The Leader of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Councillor David Burbage who was also attending, commented: "We welcome Gordon, his senior management team and all the Seqirus staff to Maidenhead. It's a significant investment in and endorsement of the continued success of the Royal Borough as a destination of choice many of the Thames Valley's most recent investors. We look forward to working with the business more closely; welcoming their staff into our community and supporting the expansion of their global business operations from the office here in Maidenhead."
The Minister for Life Sciences, George Freeman MP, was unable to attend the opening but provided a welcoming statement: "This news that CSL, one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical companies, has chosen the UK as the new corporate office location for this major new business (Seqirus) is a strong endorsement of the UK as a global life science cluster. This major investment in the strategically important vaccines sector is great news for UK leadership in vaccine science and public health. The decision also underlines the attractiveness of the UK as a business and export base for global life sciences companies."
About Seqirus
Seqirus, part of the CSL Group, is the new global company created from the combined strength and expertise of bioCSL and the influenza vaccines business formerly owned by Novartis. In July 2015, bioCSL and the influenza vaccines of Novartis joined forces to create Seqirus, now the second largest influenza vaccine provider in the world. With extensive research and production expertise and manufacturing plants in the US, Australia, UK and Germany, Seqirus is a transcontinental partner in pandemic preparedness and a major contributor to the prevention and control of influenza globally. Seqirus has a workforce of over 2,000 employees, significant manufacturing capacity, and a commercial presence in 20 countries.
For more information about Seqirus, visit www.seqirus.com
Seqirus is a CSL Limited company. ASX:CSL ABN: 26 260 735 035
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MEDIA CONTACT:
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Stephanie Birkett
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Emma Morton
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