Moderna opens mRNA manufacturing facility in Victoria
The only known mRNA manufacturing facility in the Southern Hemisphere has opened in Victoria, creating hundreds of jobs and ensuring that world-class mRNA vaccines and medicines will be able to be made in Australia.
The facility is the result of a 10-year partnership between the Australian Government, the Victorian Government and Moderna to advance Australia’s sovereign manufacturing and R&D capability in mRNA medicines and therapeutics. It is a key component of Moderna’s strategic investment in Australia and Victoria, complemented by the opening of its Regional Research Centre for Respiratory Medicines and Tropical Diseases as well as its headquarters for Australia, New Zealand, South-East Asia and Oceania in Victoria in 2023.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler and Acting Economic Growth Minister Danny Pearson last week opened the Moderna Technology Centre – Melbourne (MTC-M) at Monash University’s Clayton campus, which will have the capacity to produce up to 100 million vaccine doses each year for respiratory diseases including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19. The opening of the facility makes Australia one of few countries in the world, and the only country in the Southern Hemisphere, with an end-to-end mRNA manufacturing capability.
“We’ll never have to fight to get our fair share of vaccines again because the Southern Hemisphere’s first end-to-end mRNA vaccine facility has opened in Victoria, setting a new benchmark in innovation and economic growth,” Pearson said.
“This is a major step forward in helping protect Australians against future pandemics, while creating highly skilled jobs, supporting local industry and promoting research collaboration,” Butler added.
Moderna’s Australian operations will create 140 highly skilled direct jobs and up to 500 jobs will be supported across advanced medical manufacturing, R&D, supply chains and the broader workforce. Subject to regulatory approval, the new facility is expected to produce its first mRNA vaccines in 2025.
“I’m incredibly proud that Moderna has been able to deliver this landmark facility to produce vaccines in Australia for Australians; a significant investment into the country’s biosecurity by our company,” said Moderna’s General Manager for Australia & New Zealand, Michael Azrak.
“We are grateful to the Australian and Victorian Governments, who have been pivotal in bringing this to fruition.”