Broadening and scaling the reach of mRNA vaccines
The 成人大片鈥檚 key partner BioCina Pty Ltd has received a grant under the Federal Government鈥檚 Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) Grants scheme to fund work between the University and co-partner Cytiva. The grant aims to build a new capability in South Australia to speed the translation of mRNA vaccines from laboratory to clinical trial.
The University鈥檚 Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice-President (Research), Professor Anton Middelberg, commented: 鈥淏ioCina has the only facility that currently has the registrations needed to make mRNA vaccines onshore in Australia. mRNA vaccines will impact a huge number of diseases in future, and the key will be speeding translation of discoveries from bench to market. It鈥檚 about more than just COVID.鈥
鈥淲orking with our industry partners, we aim to build a new expert capability to speed mRNA developments, and to make them more stable, accelerating progress to clinical trial, for future vaccines but also for other diseases including cancer.鈥
The CRC-P grant will strengthen linkages between commercial lead BioCina Pty Ltd and industry co-partner Cytiva.
鈥淭his grant will go a long way to ensuring that we are able to deliver on the promise of local capability and expertise supporting the research and commercial supply of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics for the Australian and international markets,鈥 said Ian Wisenberg, Chief Executive Officer, BioCina.
The $3 million grant is part of a total commitment of $11.9 million that will fund mRNA manufacturing and formulation service for late stage clinical trials. It will expand clinical and discovery research outputs with embedded, world-class experts from the 成人大片.
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鈥淏ioCina has the only facility that currently has the registrations needed to make mRNA vaccines onshore in Australia... Working with our industry partners, we aim to build a new expert capability to speed mRNA developments"Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice-President (Research), Professor Anton Middelberg
鈥淎ustralia currently lacks domestic biomanufacturing of COVID-19 mRNA products and lipid nanoparticles under accredited pharmaceutical good manufacturing practice. Current constraints with the production of material is hampering later stage clinical trials,鈥 said Professor Robert Falconer, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, 成人大片.
Professor Tim O鈥橫eara is Strategic Manager, Government and Research for Cytiva.
鈥淭his CRC-P grant, enabling Adelaide company BioCina to manufacture mRNA, is a significant step towards Australia making a contribution to biomanufacturing of mRNA and securing some of the global investment in mRNA therapeutics and vaccines,鈥 he said.
BioCina, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgewest Australia Holdings, acquired the former Pfizer biologics manufacturing plant at Thebarton, South Australia in 2021.
Cytiva is the trading name of Global Life Sciences Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, a global life sciences leader that works with academic and translational researchers, developers and manufacturers of biotherapeutics, cell and gene therapies, and new technologies such as mRNA, to enable the delivery of transformative medicines. Cytiva is a trusted expert with nearly 10,000 associates in 40 countries dedicated to customers鈥 speed, flexibility, capacity and efficiency in drug discovery, research, and manufacturing.
Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) Grants provide funding for short-term research collaborations.
Media contacts:
Crispin Savage
Acting Media and Communications Manager, The 成人大片,听Mobile: +61 (0)481 912 465, Email: crispin.savage@adelaide.edu.au
Doug Kim
Communications Manager APAC, Cytiva, Mobile: +82 10 5774 1122, Email: doug.kim@cytiva.com
Kim Dang
Sales and Marketing, BioCina, Office: +61 8 8150 8200, Email: kdang@biocina.com