World-class $1bn vaccine and antivenom manufacturing facility opens in Melbourne

“Congratulations to CSL Seqirus on the opening of this remarkable and important facility for Australia – we’re proud to have played a key part in its delivery. The project showcases BESIX Watpac’s expertise in managing large-scale, highly complex, and secure developments, and demonstrates the extraordinary results that can be achieved through true collaboration,” Mr Baker said.

“We are committed to improving productivity on every project we deliver - this project is proof. By building a one-team approach from the outset and adopting state-of-the-art digital construction methods, we delivered an extremely technical and challenging development seamlessly and ahead of program.”

The Australian-owned and operated facility uses innovative technology to manufacture seasonal and pandemic flu vaccines for Australia and the world. It is the only cell-based influenza vaccine manufacturing facility in the Southern Hemisphere and makes Australia one of only three countries globally with the end-to-end capability to make advanced cell-based influenza vaccines.

It is also the only manufacturing site in the world capable of producing Australia’s eleven antivenoms for venomous creatures and the human Q-Fever vaccine. The new facility will replace the existing CSL Seqirus egg-based vaccine manufacturing facility in Parkville, Melbourne, marking the end of an era spanning 80 years in manufacturing innovation.

The facility has the capacity to manufacture enough cell-based seasonal flu vaccines to supply Australia and meet demand from other regions including Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas, supporting a supply chain worth $300M annually to the Australian economy.

The facility supports a long-term partnership with the Australian Government to protect Australia’s health by providing sovereign manufacturing capability and supply of pandemic influenza vaccines, antivenoms and Q fever vaccine. CSL Seqirus and the Australian Government have partnered to deliver onshore manufactured vaccines for every pandemic since 1919 and nearly 100 years of lifesaving antivenoms.

Cell-based manufacturing provides a proven technology platform to address many of the challenges associated with seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines including scalability, reliance on large volumes of critical materials and ability to rapidly produce vaccines using state-of-the-art technology.

In the event of an influenza pandemic, the facility and associated network have the capability to rapidly produce over 150 million vaccines in the first wave of manufacturing to help protect Australia and other nations.