The government has announced an additional £100 million to ensure that any successful Covid-19 vaccine can be produced at large scale in the UK.
The investment will fund a state-of-the-art Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult Manufacturing Innovation Centre to accelerate the mass production of a successful virus vaccine in the country.
Due to open in December 2021, the centre will have the capacity to produce millions of doses each month, ensuring the UK has the capabilities to manufacture vaccines and advanced medicines, including for emerging diseases, far into the future, the government has said.
This will increase the UK’s ability to respond to diseases like coronavirus and to prepare for potential future pandemics while creating new, high-skilled jobs to fuel the Britain’s economic recovery.
Located in Braintree, Essex, the new centre will complement the Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (VMIC), which is currently under construction in Oxfordshire thanks to a £93m investment from the government.
While the centre is under construction, the government has invested an additional £38m to establish a rapid deployment facility, opening later this summer.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma said: “We are taking all necessary steps to ensure we can vaccinate the public as soon as a successful Covid-19 vaccine becomes available.
“This new Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult Manufacturing Innovation Centre, alongside crucial investment in skills, will support our efforts to rapidly produce millions of doses of a coronavirus vaccine while ensuring the UK can respond quickly to potential future pandemics.”
To support these enhanced vaccine manufacturing capabilities, the government will invest an additional £4.7m for the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult.
Matthew Durdy, CEO, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult commented: “This commitment from government through the Vaccines Taskforce will enable continued growth and productivity in the cell and gene therapy sector, as well as providing vital resource for vaccine manufacturing and economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are delighted to be able to deploy the specialist capabilities of the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult in such an important initiative. Accelerating the availability of Covid-19 vaccines, increasing skills and employment, and facilitating growth of the advanced medicines industry will make a valuable contribution to the recovery of the economy.”
Employment in the cell and gene therapy sector is expected to reach over 6,000 jobs by 2024, with over 3,000 in manufacturing and bioprocessing.
