Australia will likely have to wait until at least 2023 before it can begin producing mRNA vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna.
At present the AstraZeneca vaccine is largely not recommended for residents aged under 60 unless they are in Covid outbreak regions and speak to their GPs, and the Pfizer jab is advised for most Australians.
But there are fears current Australian investment in research and infrastructure is way behind what is needed to attract a pharmaceutical giant here to make the preferred vaccine.
Australia s shortage of the preferred Pfizer vaccine has eased for now, but there are major concerns about our ability to attract a pharmaceutical giant here to help produce millions of doses of locally-made mRNA vaccine such as Moderna or Pfizer
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National investment to produce revolutionary mRNA therapies at UQ
A pilot facility at The University of Queensland could be producing mRNA vaccines and cancer therapies for research and development within months after receiving backing from the Australian Government.
TIA CEO Dr Stuart Newman said that this support would enable the facility to produce high-quality, high-purity nucleic acids – RNA and DNA – to support the work of nucleic acid researchers across the country.
“This investment complements recent investments in later-stage, large-scale mRNA manufacturing, as well as TIA’s own ongoing investment in biologics production to support R&D,” Dr Newman said.
Doubt over local mRNA plans as major companies pull out of Australia
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Vaccine development experts say it will take at least $250 million plus the support of a major pharmaceutical company to set up mRNA manufacturing in Australia, cooling hopes of a local jab in the next year.
Manufacturing a vaccine under the tightly controlled conditions demanded by medical regulators is an enormous, costly and difficult challenge that only a few companies globally are capable of.
CSL’s Broadmeadows lab, where it is manufacturing the AstraZeneca vaccine.
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