World’s second biggest influenza vaccine manufacturer expands operations at Speke site
£22 million investment in Liverpool by global biopharma company.
The world’s no. 2 influenza vaccine provider, Seqirus, has announced a £22.1 million investment for its UK manufacturing site in Liverpool.
The company, which is part of global biotherapeutics leader CSL Limited, is going to develop a new £15.3 million manufacturing facility to support the production of influenza vaccines at its Speke site.
The announcement came as Seqirus celebrated the opening of a £6.8 million investment in new warehousing facilities at the site.
Seqirus was created in November 2015 following CSL’s acquisition of the Novartis influenza vaccines business and the subsequent merger with its existing vaccines and pharmaceutical business, bioCSL. The combined company has over 2,000 employees and operations in more than 20 countries.
Seqirus said the two developments would pave the way for the future expansion of product manufacturing at the Speke site, which plays an important role in Seqirus’ global operations. The total investment is expected to increase the site’s capacity and export potential, and provide ongoing employment for a highly skilled workforce.
Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson hailed the investment as further evidence of the city’s status as a centre of excellence for global pharmaceutical companies.
The new formulation facility at the plant is expected to be operational by the middle of next year. Its development means that a key part of the influenza vaccine manufacturing process will be brought to the UK, having previously been outsourced to Italy.
There are a total of 600 employees of which 450 are permanent at the Seqirus’ Speke facility, which develops, manufactures and exports influenza vaccines across the globe, with many more jobs supported through the supply chain.
Liverpool and the city region is home to over 90 life science companies delivering products and services worth in excess of £1.7 billion per annum and contributing over £300 million in GVA to the local economy.
Life Sciences Minister George Freeman MP said: “This investment is fantastic news for Liverpool and another strong endorsement of the UK’s leadership in vaccine science, following the establishment of Seqirus’ new global office in Maidenhead last year. Their decision to reshore manufacturing activity to Liverpool clearly underlines the attractiveness of the UK and its Northern Powerhouse as a manufacturing and export base for global life science companies.”
Mayor Anderson, attending an official opening of the new warehouse facility, said: “This is a significant and extremely welcome investment in our city and a signal of our growing status as a centre for the biosciences and pharmaceutical industries.
“It’s great news for the employees here and very encouraging that major multinational companies have such confidence in the city.”
Stephen Marlow, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing Operations for Seqirus, said: “Our investment in the new formulation facility will enable us to bring a significant tranche of the influenza vaccine manufacturing process to the UK and in-house. It gives us the ability to ensure the highest quality production standards are maintained and will also allow us to offer new career opportunities for our talented Liverpool workforce.
Related News
-
News Pharmapack Awards 2024 Patient-Centric Design Award Winner – Dr Ferrer BioPharma
The 2024 Pharmapack Awards celebrated the best in innovation and design for the pharmaceutical packaging and drug delivery industry on January 24, 2024. -
News Women in Pharma: Minding the Gap at Pharmapack 2024
2024 marks the first year Pharmapack will host a Diversity track dedicated to bridging the gap within the pharmaceutical packaging and drug delivery sector. The track includes a panel discussion on 'Enabling Diversity in the Workplace,' focused... -
News Pharmapack Awards 2024 - Celebrating Packaging and Drug Delivery Innovation
The 2024 Pharmapack Innovation Awards ceremony celebrated the best in pharmaceutical packaging and drug delivery innovation at all levels. The awards were held on January 24, 2024 at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. -
News 2024 Pharma Industry Trends Outlook: Collaboration, Market Maturity, and Digital Futures
The annual CPHI Online 2024 Pharma Trends Outlook, in partnership with Arvato Systems, identifies 12 key industry trends shaping the life sciences industry in the coming year. -
News New Novo Nordisk AI hub for drug discovery to open in London, UK
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk will be opening an AI-based research facility in the heart of London to advance drug discovery operations. -
News BioNTech to begin mRNA vaccine manufacturing in Rwanda by 2025
German biotechnology company BioNTech has stated their intentions to begin production at their mRNA vaccine factory in Rwanda by 2025, which will mark the first foreign mRNA vaccine manufacturing site on the continent of Africa. -
News Women in Pharma: Looking back on 2023 and moving forward to 2024
In this monthly series, we interview women from across the pharmaceutical industry and supply chain to discuss the importance of gender diversity in healthcare, the workplace, and beyond. -
News CPHI Barcelona 2023: Partnering for Success – Managing Outsourcing Relationships to Optimise Manufacturing Operations
During CPHI Barcelona 2023, insightful content sessions offered attendees the chance to explore trending topics with expert speakers and panellists. Here, we summarise what the pharma industry and supply chain are talking about the most.
Position your company at the heart of the global Pharma industry with a CPHI Online membership
-
Your products and solutions visible to thousands of visitors within the largest Pharma marketplace
-
Generate high-quality, engaged leads for your business, all year round
-
Promote your business as the industry’s thought-leader by hosting your reports, brochures and videos within your profile
-
Your company’s profile boosted at all participating CPHI events
-
An easy-to-use platform with a detailed dashboard showing your leads and performance