Health secretary visits Moderna’s new Oxfordshire innovation centre

Moderna recently welcomed high-profile visitors to its new innovation and technology centre (MITC) in Harwell, Oxfordshire, due to begin operations later this year.

Among the delegation were Victoria Atkins, secretary of state for health and social care, and Professor Dame Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency.

Just a year after breaking ground on the UK’s first mRNA vaccine development facility, the shell of Moderna’s manufacturing facility is now complete.

Installation of advanced manufacturing equipment, including mRNA processing equipment and digital controls, is well underway – and the clinical labs, built from modular units, are nearing completion on-site.

The MITC comes as part of Moderna’s ten-year strategic partnership with the UK government.

Once operational, it’s set to bolster pandemic preparedness and provide the UK public with direct access to mRNA vaccines for Covid-19, as well as other potential respiratory health threats.

The facility will be able to rapidly produce up to 250 million vaccine doses in the event of a pandemic, while its biomarker, bioanalytical, and molecular assay laboratories will process samples from Moderna’s clinical trials across the UK and Europe.

The labs will evaluate clinical samples and enable rapid, data-driven decisions to assess the safety and effectiveness of potential therapeutics and vaccines. 

Victoria Atkins said:“I was delighted to visit this groundbreaking site and see the exciting progress that’s been made.

“The partnership between the UK and Moderna demonstrates the UK’s status as a world leader in life sciences, research and development. 

“This facility will strengthen our health security, boost pandemic preparedness and improve our rapid response capabilities.”

Professor Dame Jenny Harries added:“The progress on this facility is exciting to see, and I look forward to continuing our work with Moderna to strengthen the UK’s vaccine development and research capabilities.

“This partnership places us at the forefront of new science and improves our ability to protect the nation from respiratory diseases and future pandemics.

“Moderna’s new centre, once complete, will also provide an important boost to the UK’s life sciences economy and onshore vaccine manufacturing capability.”

Upon completion of the facility, Moderna expects to create more than 150 highly skilled jobs, with several hundred currently involved in the construction and fit out.

The clinical laboratories are scheduled to start processing samples later in 2024, with the manufacturing facility expected to be operational in mid-2025.

Darius Hughes, UK general manager at Moderna, said: “We were delighted to host the secretary of state for health and social care and CEO of the UK Health Security Agency.

“The construction of the MITC is advancing at speed and this visit provides a great opportunity to illustrate how our strategic partnership with the UK government is rapidly translating into concrete achievements, bolstering the UK’s health resilience and scientific strength.”