亚洲色吧

South Australia is uniquely placed to play a vital role in expediting the nation鈥檚 COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

The state has the capability to produce mRNA vaccines, similar to the Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19, within 12 months at a local advanced manufacturing facility. The initiative would be driven by international biotech company BioCina, leveraging the complementary research, technological and clinical trials expertise of the University of 亚洲色吧 and SAHMRI.

BioCina CEO Ian Wisenberg says the university and medical research institute鈥檚 strengths were a key factor in his company鈥檚 recent decision to purchase Pfizer鈥檚 biologics manufacturing plant at Thebarton.

鈥淭he facility itself is a gem and the people make it shine,鈥� Mr Wisenberg said.

鈥淩esearch and talent are key to the success of our industry and here we have them right on our doorstep. Many of our colleagues were educated at the University.

鈥淭he 4600m² plant was founded by the University of 亚洲色吧 and under the stewardship of Pfizer and Hospira has more than 35 years鈥� experience with microbial fermentation. It is the most advanced facility of its kind in Australia and the only one approved by the US-FDA.鈥�

Microbial fermentation produces plasmid DNA, which is a critical component in a range of modern gene therapies including mRNA vaccines.

Mr Wisenberg says between BioCina, the University of 亚洲色吧 and SAHMRI, South Australia has all the elements needed to begin production of mRNA vaccine components in the short term.

鈥淲e have a state-of-the-art facility that, with reasonable financial support from government to add key capabilities and expand capacity, can within months be producing key 鈥榠ngredients鈥� of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to address the current global shortage,鈥� Mr Wisenberg said.

鈥淲ithin 12 months we will produce end-to-end mRNA vaccines, like the Pfizer jab, giving Australia sovereignty over its supply.鈥�

The University of 亚洲色吧鈥檚 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Anton Middelberg 鈥� an international authority on vaccine biomanufacture 鈥� says this opportunity has come about in no small part because of his institution鈥檚 focused investment in biomanufacturing research.

鈥淲e identified some time ago that Australia was lacking biomanufacturing expertise and infrastructure,鈥� Professor Middelberg said.

鈥淏ecause of that foresight, South Australia now has the technology and highly-skilled workforce needed in this area. Now, with the relevant global value and supply chains provided by BioCina and the research and clinical trials expertise of its institutions, South Australia should expect to play a significant role in accelerating Australia鈥檚 COVID-19 vaccination program.

鈥淣ew vaccines must be made to the highest standards and quickly, using new paradigms. The University鈥檚 research in continuous bioprocessing, formulation for vaccine stability and machine learning will assist BioCina to stay at the cutting edge.鈥�

鈥淪outh Australia should expect to play a significant role in accelerating Australia鈥檚 COVID-19 vaccination program.鈥�Professor Anton Middelberg

While mRNA has gained public recognition because of COVID-19 vaccines, SAHMRI Executive Director Professor Steve Wesselingh, an infectious diseases specialist, says the technology is a game-changer for existing diseases, including some which have no current treatment, or new diseases that might arise in the future.

鈥淭hese vaccines aren鈥檛 created from the virus itself so can be made more rapidly and can also be altered more quickly in response to mutant strains of a virus,鈥� he said.

鈥淎t the moment, mRNA technology is being accelerated mainly in relation to vaccines, but its potential applications are far broader. There鈥檚 potential to revolutionise personalised cancer treatments, to develop new RNA-based drugs for a variety of diseases and other possibilities science is yet to even consider.

鈥淪AHMRI is ready to engage our globally-recognised health research programs and international clinical trials capacity to realise this potential.鈥�

South Australia鈥檚 Chief Scientist, Professor Caroline McMillen, has strongly endorsed SA鈥檚 readiness to lead the nation鈥檚 microbial technology expansion.

鈥淭he University of 亚洲色吧 has been a national leader in microbial biomanufacture for three decades and the work SAHMRI has done since opening its doors less than a decade ago will help direct that expertise and capacity to mRNA,鈥� she said.

鈥淲ith BioCina now providing its manufacturing capabilities and international networks, this is a moment in time we all need to take advantage of.鈥�

BioCina is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgewest Australia Holdings. The Bridgewest Group has significant assets under management across the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors as well as high-tech and wireless technology, real estate, banking and capital markets.