Pioneering US biotech firm Moderna will make millions of vaccines for seasonal viruses like COVID-19, create dozens of highly skilled jobs, and help build a Britain that’s more resilient to pandemics thanks to a new cutting-edge research centre opening in Oxfordshire.
The new Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre is the latest addition to the UK’s £100 billion life sciences sector to come out of Moderna’s 10-year strategic partnership with the government. The partnership also includes an over £1 billion programme of investment in UK R&D being brought forward by the company, tapping into the UK’s deep skills base, world-class academic institutions, and the power of the NHS as an engine for research and innovation.
The facility will support around 150 highly-skilled jobs, while enabling groundbreaking work on the use of mRNA vaccine technology to tackle cancer and seasonal infections like flu, RSV and COVID-19, subject to the usual regulatory processes. RNA technology is an emerging field of healthcare with the potential to overhaul how we tackle a wide range of diseases that currently cause ill-health and distress.
It could also be utilised to produce up to 250 million vaccine doses a year in the event of a pandemic, making a critical contribution to our national resilience to future health emergencies, by building the UK’s capacity to produce cutting-edge therapies at scale, at home, should they be needed.
To support further game-changing investments in life sciences R&D, the government is piloting the Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund. This new £50 million fund aims to bolster the UK’s research and development infrastructure by supporting large-scale, capital-intensive projects in the life sciences sector worth over £100 million. The fund is designed to attract substantial private investment in UK-based R&D, reinforcing the UK’s position as the location of choice for life sciences innovation, and pulling in the investment that is a vital part of economic growth.
Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said: "Life sciences are a great British success story and this new cutting-edge facility is the next pivotal moment in boosting our nation’s health, innovation and economy. The government is investing billions into this vital sector and partnering the might of Moderna with the brilliance of our NHS will enable us to benefit from innovative vaccine technology as we shift healthcare from treatment to prevention. Pioneering centres like these will help ensure this country remains a powerhouse in this growing industry, as part of our comprehensive Plan for Change."
Science Minister Lord Vallance said: "The UK’s life sciences sector is a fundamental part of our nation’s health and economy, and will be critical to our ambitions going forward. The pioneering work Moderna will be doing, here in the UK, on mRNA is a prime example of the opportunity we want to grasp. It’s the chance for new treatments that save lives, and new products that drive growth and job creation, all made possible thanks to our world-class institutions, skills, and the NHS. It is this unique mix that makes the UK a life sciences destination that punches well above its weight.
"The opening of this centre is proof of the brilliant things coming out of the deep and meaningful relationships we’re determined to forge with companies like Moderna. This Innovation Centre will strengthen the UK’s growth, health, and our resilience."
Darius Hughes, UK General Manager of Moderna, said: "It has been incredible to see the MITC built at record speed to bring our mRNA manufacturing to the UK, and this progress wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our partners and the UK government. With the facility now open and operational, we’re proud to be the first company to have established a UK-based mRNA manufacturing capability to support NHS seasonal vaccination programmes. This mission-driven collaboration strengthens the UK’s pandemic preparedness and is a win-win-win for patients, for government, and for the life sciences sector."
Professor Susan Hopkins, CEO, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) added: "The opening of this impressive state of the art facility in Harwell, alongside Moderna’s substantial investment in UK research and development, will help ensure the NHS has rapid access to mRNA vaccines if needed in a future pandemic. It will also open doors to new vaccine products, helping support the government’s 10 Year Health Plan and the focus on prevention.
"I’m delighted that UKHSA leads the partnership on behalf of government. It is an exemplar on how we and government can work closely with industry to prepare and respond to emerging health threats. It will support the UK’s ambitions towards the 100 Days Mission, helping put the UK at the forefront of pandemic preparedness and new technologies whilst driving economic growth."
