A cutting-edge RNA research facility promised to New South Wales more than four years ago will open its doors by next summer, delivering first-of-its-kind vaccine research and manufacturing capability in the state.
The facility, which was originally expected to come online this year, is now in the laboratory fit-out phase, the final step before regulatory approval by the Therapeutics Goods Administration.
Construction of the $96 million RNA Research and Manufacturing Facility has been underway at Macquarie University since September last year to boost the state’s mRNA and RNA research and manufacturing capabilities.
The former state government committed to the facility in October 2021, setting aside $119 million over 10 years for RNA R&D at the site. It followed attempts to secure a federal government-backed Moderna facility, which was ultimately built in Victoria.
US biotech Myeloid Therapeutics, which was co-founded by Australian researcher Daniel Getts in 2019 was appointed as the sole operator in February 2023. The company has since set up subsidiary, Aurora Biosynthetics, to operate the facility.
The facility will be used for pilot-scale development and manufacturing, with the government touting it as the “only site in Australia where a wide range of new and existing RNA therapeutics will be produced under the one roof”.
Following a tour of the facility last week, the state government on Saturday said the facility was “on-track” for a 2026 completion, with the foundations, structure and utility connections all completed in recent months.
A spokesperson for Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology Anoulack Chanthivong said the structure was completed in March and connected to mains power in June.
Large laboratory equipment, including a $6 million VanRX robotic filling machine designed to perform fully enclosed aseptic filling processes, has also recently been installed at the site.
“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the effectiveness of RNA-based vaccines and therapies, but it also revealed the critical need to develop sovereign capability that bridges the gap between research and clinical trial outcomes,” Mr Chanthivong said.
“This facility will enable NSW and Australian RNA researchers to design, test and manufacture RNA therapies locally, including vaccines and therapeutics for humans and animals.”
Minister for Medical Research David Harris said the facility, once open, would become the “the centrepiece of the growing NSW RNA ecosystem”, driving the translation of research for phase 1-3 trials.
Kate Pounder, the former Tech Council chief executive who now chairs RNA Australia, said the exciting milestones meant that the facility would be able to “hit the ground running once it is complete”.
“Collaboration across government, the tertiary education sector and industry will enable this RNA Facility to enhance RNA R&D in NSW, increasing investment and opportunities for national and international researchers alike,” she said.
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