Harper Sercombe
Tullamarine’s new state-of-the-art manufacturing centre has ‘topped out’.
CSL announced that the construction of its newest vaccine facility has reached its peak, with construction to be completed in 2024 and the first batch of vaccines to be made in 2026.
The $800 million plant will be used for the production of cell-based influenza vaccines as well as antivenoms for some of Australia’s deadliest creatures.
Vice president Jonah Smith said it will be the first of its kind.
“This will be the only cell-based influenza vaccine manufacturing facility in the Southern
Hemisphere and will provide access to Australian-made innovative vaccines and potentially lifesaving antivenoms,” Mr Smith said.
“This is also one of the first local manufacturing facilities to pursue 5 star ‘Green Star’ and Gold WELL certification.
“This facility will manufacture influenza vaccines for use in Australia and overseas, creating a supply chain worth more than $300 million annually to the Australian economy.”
CSL executive medical director Dr Jonothan Anderson said the investment into the centre will prepare Australia for both seasonal and pandemic influenza.
“By making vaccines in cells, we can eliminate the introduction of egg-based mutations that can
impact influenza vaccines,” Dr Anderson said.
“We’re seeing influenza return to pre-COVID levels and we’ve experienced early flu seasons in both the northern and southern hemispheres recently.
“In the event of an influenza pandemic, this facility would quickly switch to manufacturing strain-matched cell-based pandemic influenza vaccines.”
The build is the largest ongoing project as part of CSL’s $2 billion investment within Australia which includes the new plasma fractionation facility in Broadmeadows and new global headquarters in Melbourne.
