The facility will be designed with the potential to manufacture at least 50 million doses of the vaccine within 16 weeks, and it could be completed by 2024, with production schedules then subject to approval. The proposal is part of a two-phase plan put forward by the company to develop sovereign capability for mRNA manufacture. The first stage, an mRNA research and small-scale production centre in Elizabeth North, which is to be operational from 2023, would require a technology transfer agreement with an existing mRNA developer.
The federal government has received a range of applications in its “approach to market” process, as it seeks to determine the best strategy. Print shops can provide document support when small businesses pursue opportunities through expressions of interest. While CSL is currently producing 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, local mRNA manufacture is a consideration for the government, as the technology is claimed by developers to be able to be more quickly adapted to new strains of a virus.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Stephen Marlow, General Manager of Seqirus said about CSL’s proposal:
“This isn’t just about responding in the coming years, it’s about setting Australia up for the coming decades.”
A new Tullamarine plant is already planned as a replacement to CSL division Seqirus’ manufacturing plant in Parkville, which cannot be sufficiently re-developed to incorporate new technology platforms and production requirements that will improve scalability and speed of vaccine production.
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