Seqirus Announces $140-Million Expansion for Vaccine Facility

Published on: November 20, 2018

The vaccine producer announced an expansion to its Holly Springs, NC, manufacturing facility where it will increase production of its cell-based quadrivalent influenza vaccine.

Seqirus, a cell-based influenza vaccine producer and a wholly owned subsidiary of CSL Limited, announced a $140-million expansion of its Holly Springs, NC, manufacturing facility in a Nov. 16, 2018 press release, with plans to increase manufacturing capacity for the company’s cell-based quadrivalent influenza vaccine, QIVc.

The expansion will allow the company to increase capacity for formulation, fill, and finish manufacturing of cell-based and adjuvanted influenza vaccines for global markets as well as increase staff by 120 people. Construction of the new facility is expected to be complete by 2020, supporting increased fill and finish of influenza vaccine doses and enabling the more rapid production of pandemic influenza vaccines.

"According to the CDC, the 2017–2018 influenza season in the U[nited] S[tates] was one of the worst in recent years, and influenza continues to be a public health threat," said Gordon Naylor, president, Seqirus in a company press release. "We are deeply committed to developing innovative solutions, including cell-based vaccines, to help reduce deaths and severe illness caused by influenza. In just three years, we have quadrupled our supply of our cell-based influenza vaccine, and this major investment will enable us to meet further demand."

The Holly Springs manufacturing facility was purpose-built in partnership with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response within the US Department of Health and Human Services, to combat pandemic influenza threats. This public-private partnership is the first in the world to establish cell-based technology as a highly scalable method of production, according to Seqirus.

The company reports that it has developed the first cell-based influenza vaccine in the US for use in individuals four years and older and an adjuvanted influenza vaccine specifically for those 65 years and older.

Source: Seqirus