Moderna, Inc. has officially opened its Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre (MITC) at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire, UK. This new facility will manufacture British-made mRNA respiratory vaccines to support the National Health Service (NHS) seasonal vaccination programs. In addition to respiratory diseases, the centre will also advance research into mRNA applications for cancer, rare diseases, and immune disorders.
Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel highlighted that the MITC is the first facility in the UK to produce an onshore supply of mRNA vaccines. He noted the company’s strong partnership with the UK, which has already resulted in more than 20 clinical trials conducted across 110 sites nationwide, making Moderna the country’s largest commercial trial sponsor. The rapid development of the facility, from concept to operational readiness in under two years, reflects the UK’s commitment to enhancing health security against global emergencies and seasonal respiratory threats.
The MITC has the capacity to produce up to 100 million mRNA vaccine doses annually, with the ability to scale up to 250 million doses in the event of a pandemic. The centre also includes Clinical R&D laboratories that will analyze samples from Moderna’s clinical trials worldwide.
This new UK site is part of Moderna’s global network of advanced manufacturing hubs, which includes facilities in Australia and Canada. Together, these centres strengthen pandemic preparedness by ensuring broad geographic coverage and reducing response times.