Moderna Opens UK mRNA Vaccine Factory Boosting Pandemic Readiness

Moderna has officially opened its Innovation and Technology Centre (MITC) in Harwell, Oxfordshire, marking the UK's first facility to manufacture mRNA vaccines onshore. This £150 million facility is part of a broader £1 billion, 10-year strategic partnership with the UK government, aimed at enhancing health resilience and economic growth, and can produce up to 100 million vaccine doses annually, scaling to 250 million during pandemics. The MITC supports the UK's National Health Service (NHS) seasonal vaccination programs and extends research into mRNA applications for cancer, rare diseases, and immune disorders. Moderna's CEO highlighted the UK's continued belief in vaccinations, contrasting with rising vaccine skepticism in the US under President Trump's administration, which could influence global vaccine demand and investment. Despite the optimistic investment, the UK pharmaceutical sector faces challenges regarding pricing pressures and investment attractiveness, with some companies pausing investment due to low medicine prices, prompting government discussions about NHS spending on medicines. Moderna's facility also symbolizes a commitment to health security and innovation, bolstering the UK's position in vaccine manufacturing amid a complex global pharmaceutical landscape.