$1bn vaccine and antivenom manufacturing facility opens
A $1 billion cell-based influenza vaccine and antivenom manufacturing facility has opened in Melbourne. Opened by CSL Seqirus, the facility manufactures seasonal and pandemic flu vaccines for Australia and the world and is the only cell-based influenza vaccine manufacturing facility in the Southern Hemisphere — making Australia one of only three countries globally with the end-to-end capability to make advanced cell-based influenza vaccines.
The facility is also the only manufacturing site in the world capable of producing Australia’s 11 antivenoms for venomous creatures and the human Q-Fever vaccine, and will replace the existing CSL Seqirus egg-based vaccine manufacturing facility in Parkville, Melbourne. The facility has the capacity to manufacture enough cell-based seasonal flu vaccines to supply Australia and meet demand from other regions including Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas, supporting a supply chain worth $300m annually to the Australian economy.
The facility and associated network have the capability — in the event of an influenza pandemic — to rapidly produce over 150 million vaccines in the first wave of manufacturing to help protect Australia and other nations. The facility was opened by Australia’s Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing, Mark Butler, on 2 December.
“Thanks to this world-class facility, the future of flu vaccine and antivenom manufacturing is Australian made. World-leading flu vaccines that are in high demand will be manufactured on our shores, to protect Australians and the globe,” Butler said.
“CSL Seqirus has been at the forefront of innovation since 1919 and our partnership with the Australian and Victorian Governments has been central to that,” CSL Seqirus Managing Director Dave Ross said. “From developing Spanish flu pandemic vaccines, [to] researching and developing Australian antivenoms, rapidly delivering a swine flu vaccine in 2009 and transforming a 70-year-old manufacturing process to reduce the burden of seasonal influenza.
“This facility will build a platform for our next wave of innovation in vaccines and unique health challenges, setting a new standard of care.”
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