Moderna to invest over GBP 1 billion in UK R&D as part of 10-year partnership with UK government

Moderna to invest over GBP 1 billion in UK R&D as part of 10-year partnership with UK government

Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA) has announced a significant investment of over GBP 1 billion in the UK, as part of its 10-year strategic partnership with the UK government. The investment, which includes the opening of the Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre (MITC) in Harwell, Oxfordshire, will see the company expand its global manufacturing footprint and enhance its research and development (R&D) capabilities in the UK .

The MITC, which can produce up to 100 million mRNA vaccine doses annually, with the capacity to scale to 250 million during pandemics, is the first facility in the UK to manufacture mRNA vaccines onshore . The facility includes Clinical R&D laboratories for analyzing global trial samples, and it is part of Moderna's global manufacturing network, which also includes facilities in Australia and Canada .

The investment marks a substantial expansion of Moderna's global manufacturing footprint and positions the company as an essential component of the UK's health security infrastructure . The rapid two-year timeline from concept to operational facility demonstrates Moderna's execution capabilities and the priority placed on this expansion .

Beyond COVID-19 vaccines, the R&D capabilities at the MITC will support Moderna's pipeline development across cancer, rare diseases, and immune disorders. This diversification is crucial as the company works to expand beyond its COVID-19 revenue base and leverage its mRNA platform across multiple therapeutic areas .

The designation of Moderna as "the largest commercial sponsor of trials in the country" with "more than 20 clinical trials across 110 sites" indicates substantial ongoing R&D investment in the UK market, which should accelerate the company's pipeline progress and strengthen relationships with local medical institutions .

The MITC is now fully operational and licensed to supply British-made COVID-19 vaccines to the UK population, marking a cornerstone of Moderna's ten-year strategic partnership with the UK Government, designed to strengthen health resilience and drive economic growth .