The race to manufacture millions of doses of a coronavirus
vaccine has been boosted with a multi-million-pound government
investment, Business Secretary has announced today (Sunday 17
May).
The government will invest up to £93 million to accelerate
construction of the new Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation
Centre (VMIC) which, when completed, will have capacity to
produce enough vaccine doses to serve the entire UK population in
as little as six months. The funding will ensure the centre opens
in Summer 2021, a full 12 months ahead of schedule.
The new Centre, which is already under construction, is a key
component of the government’s coronavirus vaccine programme –
ensuring that once a vaccine is available it can be produced
quickly and in mass quantities.
To be located on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in
Oxfordshire, the new Centre will be the UK’s first not-for-profit
organisation established to develop and advance the mass
production of vaccines. This will boost the UK’s long-term
capacity against future viruses. The centre will also accelerate
the production of vaccines for existing illnesses such as the flu
virus.
While the Centre is being built, the government will establish a
rapid deployment facility thanks to a further investment of £38
million to begin manufacturing at scale from Summer 2020. This
facility will support efforts to ensure a vaccine is widely
available to the public as soon as possible.
Business Secretary said:
“As the biggest contributor to the international coalition to
find a vaccine, the UK is leading the global response. Once a
breakthrough is made, we need to be ready to manufacture a
vaccine by the millions.
“The new Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre and
temporary facility will build ‘fill and finish’ capacity,
bringing the UK vaccine programme together from discovery to
distribution.”
The Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre’s Chief
Executive Dr Matthew Duchars said:
“Today’s announcement by the Business Secretary is an important
endorsement for the work the Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation
Centre will deliver in shoring up future domestic supply of
vaccines in response to a pandemic.
“This investment will rapidly accelerate the construction of the
facility, enabling us to bring it online a year sooner. In
addition, the capacity will be significantly increased, so that
enough vaccines could be made for everyone in the UK within a
matter of months of opening.”
UK Research and Innovation Chef Executive Sir Mark Walport, said:
“The Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre is an essential
new weapon in the UK’s arsenal against diseases and other
biological threats, ensuring sufficient vaccines get to the
public in the fastest possible time.
“The UKRI-funded teams at the University of Oxford and Imperial
College London have developed potential coronavirus vaccines at
unprecedented speed. By working with partners including
government, VMIC and the Vaccines Taskforce to fast-track the
manufacturing capability, we are ensuring that momentum will
continue all the way from lab to patient.”
The UK is at the forefront of international efforts to research
and develop a vaccine. The government has already pledged £250
million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations
(CEPI), the highest contribution of any country, and the UK is
hosting the upcoming global pledging conference for Gavi, the
Vaccine Alliance, on 4th June. This is part of the UK committing
£388 million to the international drive to develop vaccines,
tests and treatments.
The announcement follows the government appointing leading figure
in the life sciences sector Kate Bingham as chair of the UK’s
Vaccine Taskforce – the group set up by the Government’s Chief
Scientific Adviser, Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Business
Secretary to lead UK efforts to find and manufacture a COVID-19
vaccine.
Notes to Editors
- Plans for the Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre
have received a total public and private sector funding of £207
million, including today’s new £131 million investment.
- The Vaccines Taskforce is supported by an Expert Advisory
Board, led by Chief Scientific Adviser Sir and Deputy Chief
Medical Officer Jonathan Van Tam, to coordinate efforts to
accelerate the development and manufacture of a COVID-19
vaccine.
