Wuxi Vaccines' Ireland site still on course for 2022 despite COVID challenges

Wuxi Vaccines' Dundalk site in Ireland

Despite COVID-related challenges and supply chain issues, the CDMO's $240 million new facility is on target to open next year

According to Mr Jian Dong, CEO of WuXi Vaccines, the company has achieved the weather-tight milestone on-schedule and per-specification, which is no mean feat considering the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the "strained" global supply chain, the company said it managed to complete the construction as scheduled thanks to its strategic customer, third-party engineering companies and colleagues on three continents.

Although the facility is expected to be operational in 2022, the modular lab has been in GMP operations since July 2020.

In February last year, WuXi Vaccines, which is a joint venture between WuXi Biologics and Shanghai Hile Bio-Technology, signed a 20-year vaccine manufacturing contract valued at approximately USD $3 billion with an as yet unnamed global pharmaceutical company.

To implement the agreement, WuXi Vaccines invested in the construction of the Dundalk facility, which it will equip with drug substance manufacturing, drug product manufacturing, manufacturing science and technology, and quality control labs.