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Highlights
- Spikevax’s Moderna has boosted its vaccine development in Australia.
- The company expects to launch a local manufacturing plant by the end of 2024.
- It will soon start its recruitment drive to ensure enough talent.
The Australian flu vaccine market can witness stiff competition as Moderna develops its combined flu/COVID vaccines and flu shots.
Moderna is also likely to be embarking on a hiring spree as it hopes to launch its local manufacturing plant in Australia soon.
As per media reports, Moderna’s managing director for Australia and New Zealand, Michael Azrak, has stated that the company anticipates developing a combination shot and will continue to focus on respiratory virus vaccines.
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However, as compliance is still an issue, it would be a better invention for the physicians, as the company majorly targets improving public health, he said.
Apart from this, Moderna is also working on a new vaccine for flu. If successful, the company aims to manufacture it at its messenger-RNA manufacturing plant. This manufacturing plant will be built in Melbourne as a part of a deal with Victorian and Australian Federal governments.
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Moderna’s entry into Australia means the country will have two highly innovative vaccine manufacturing plants in Melbourne, CSL’s flu vaccine facility being the other one.
CSL, which is working on mRNA flu, anticipates its vaccine facility to be ready by mid-2026.
Moderna recruitment drive
Image source – © Rawpixelimages | Megapixl.com
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine is its first commercial product. The company has been primarily inclined towards using messenger-RNA technology for several medical treatments.
It has launched a new program called ‘mRNA Access’, which will let medical researchers use Moderna’s technology platform as part of their own work.
Moreover, the Australian medical research landscape has influenced Moderna’s decisions to set up shop in the region.
This can be an excellent opportunity for Australian researchers, as the company is also looking to bring more medical research onshore.
The company has already advanced discussions with academic institutes regarding using mRNA Access.
It hopes to launch its local manufacturing plant by the end of 2024 and will soon commence its recruitment drive. Moderna will also speak to the Australian universities about their current and future talent needs.
Related read - Australia might change Covid-19 isolation rule, hints Nick Coatsworth
TGA approval
Apart from this, Spikevax’s Moderna has also been approved for the use in people aged 6 years and above by TGA today.
Conclusion
While Moderna believes that its entry into the Australian market wouldn’t influence competitors, the company welcomes healthy research or innovation competition in the Aussie market.
