Spread over 60,000ft2, the custom-built Vaxxas Biomedical Facility will act as the firm’s global headquarters to scale up its operations to produce Vaxxas’ high-density microarray patches annually
Vaxxas inaugurates new HD-MAP vaccines production facility. (Credit: MasterTux from Pixabay)
Biotechnology company Vaxxas has opened its new advance manufacturing facility in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia to produce proprietary needle-free vaccine patch for future late-stage clinical trials and the first commercial vaccine products.
Spread over 60,000ft2, the custom-built Vaxxas Biomedical Facility will act as the firm’s global headquarters.
It will also scale up its operations to produce Vaxxas’ high-density microarray patches (HD-MAPs) annually.
The facility houses two independent Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), qualified aseptic cleanrooms, a medical device production space, a device assembly cleanroom, and supporting infrastructure including labs and office space.
The biotechnology company received financial assistance and operational support from the Queensland Government to develop the plant.
Through the Australian Government’s Modern Manufacturing Initiative, Vaxxas has secured extra money to assist in the setup of specialised manufacturing and production infrastructure.
The first-of-a-kind facility, with biomedical manufacturing capabilities, is said to be a sizable investment in the biotech sector of Queensland and Australia.
Vaxxas CEO David Hoey said: “The Vaxxas Biomedical Facility represents a new and exciting chapter for our company, as it is foundational for our next phase of growth.
“With the support of the Queensland State and Australian Federal Governments, the Vaxxas Biomedical Facility will firmly position Australia at the forefront of vaccine technology innovation.
“The site will significantly increase our manufacturing capacity, creating new local, skilled jobs, while enabling Vaxxas to progress through late-stage clinical trials that will bring our first commercial vaccine products to the market.”
The firm’s proprietary HD-MAP technology platform has the potential to improve vaccination by reducing the difficulties and expenses connected with refrigerated distribution, which are necessary for many existing vaccines.
The technology helps to create vaccine products that are simple to use (for self-administration) and stable at room temperature, Vaxxas said.
In its Queensland operations, the biotechnology firm presently employs 130 people, but it plans to raise that number to 200 over the next three to five years.
Its R&D teams will be able to collaborate with manufacturing teams at the new facility, expand their current R&D efforts, and accelerate the transition from research to eventual commercialisation.