The Southern Hemisphere’s only mRNA manufacturing facility has officially opened in Victoria, marking a significant milestone for Australia’s healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. Backed by the Australian and Victorian Governments, this state-of-the-art facility, located at Monash University’s Clayton campus, positions Australia as a global leader in mRNA vaccine and medicine production.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, alongside Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler and Acting Economic Growth Minister Danny Pearson, inaugurated Moderna’s cutting-edge facility. This development is a crucial step toward strengthening Australia’s sovereign capability to produce world-class vaccines and medicines while creating hundreds of jobs.

The facility will be capable of producing up to 100 million vaccine doses annually, addressing respiratory diseases such as influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and COVID-19. It represents one of the few end-to-end mRNA manufacturing capabilities globally, ensuring Australia’s readiness to tackle future health challenges.

Key Highlights:

• Job Creation: During its construction, the project supported 500 jobs, and ongoing operations will directly create 140 highly skilled roles, with up to 500 additional roles supported across manufacturing, R&D, supply chains, and other sectors.
• Vaccine Production Timeline: Subject to regulatory approvals, the facility is projected to deliver its first mRNA vaccines in 2025.
• Strategic Partnerships: This initiative is part of a 10-year collaboration between the Australian Government, Victorian Government, and Moderna to advance local mRNA technology and manufacturing capabilities.
• Complementary Investments: The facility adds to Moderna’s Regional Research Centre for Respiratory Medicines and Tropical Diseases and its Australia-New Zealand-Southeast Asia-Oceania headquarters, both established in Victoria in 2023.

With the presence of both Moderna and BioNTech, Victoria is now uniquely positioned as the only location worldwide hosting research, development, and manufacturing operations from two global mRNA leaders.

Premier Jacinta Allan emphasized the economic and global significance of the development, stating:

“This is exactly what economic growth looks like: more investment, more jobs, and more opportunity for all. I’m proud that our state will make vaccines that Australia and the world can rely on.”

Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Aged Care, highlighted the pandemic preparedness and innovation benefits:

“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.”

Michael Azrak, Moderna’s General Manager for Australia & New Zealand, noted:

“Today’s opening is a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration and dedication. This facility represents a significant investment in Australia’s biosecurity and the health of Australians.”

This groundbreaking initiative underscores Victoria’s position as a global hub for medical research, bolstered by the state’s $1 billion investment in the sector and a workforce of over 30,000.