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03-Feb-2025

MODERNA WAS THE LARGEST INDUSTRY SPONSOR OF CLINICAL TRIALS IN THE UK IN 2023/24 AS CONSTRUCTION ON MODERNA INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE IN OXFORDSHIRE NEARS COMPLETION

Since 2021, Moderna has launched 23 clinical trials across 110 UK sites

One in five of participants in industry-sponsored clinical research are enrolled in Moderna trials

LONDON, UK—(ACCESS WIRE)— 31 January, 2024—Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) has announced updates demonstrating substantial R&D investment and progress in the UK, two years since signing its strategic partnership with the UK government, at a milestone event at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire.

The milestone event brought together stakeholders from across the UK life sciences ecosystem to mark the completion of the construction of the Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre (MITC) – the company’s state-of-the-art research, development and manufacturing facility.

Subject to licensure, the first product manufactured at scale is expected to be a COVID-19 vaccine to support the NHS vaccination programme. In the event of a pandemic, the site will have the capacity to produce a minimum of 250 million vaccine doses per year.

The MITC also features state-of-the-art labs and office spaces designed to support high-priority pre-clinical and clinical-stage assays. The biomarker, bioanalytical, and molecular assay laboratories will process samples from Moderna’s clinical trials to assess the safety and effectiveness of potential therapeutics and vaccines.

Under the company’s ten-year strategic partnership with the UK government – managed by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on behalf of the government – Moderna is also investing significantly in R&D to unlock the greatest health benefit.

Moderna’s R&D presence in the UK, by numbers:

  • Launched 23i clinical trials since 2021, involving 110 clinical trial sites across England, Scotland and Wales.
  • Developed a diverse trial portfolio with eight trials launched in 2024 – four in oncology and four in infectious disease, including mpox, seasonal flu and norovirus.
  • Phase 3 clinical trials for influenza and norovirus, launched in October 2024, have recruited more than 5,000 participants across 70 UK sites.
  • To date, more than 12,700 people in the UK have participated in a Moderna clinical trial.
  • In 2023, the UK recruited the first patient globally to the Checkpoint study, Moderna’s early phase cancer study. Moderna’s vaccine technology has also been used as an individualised mRNA therapy against melanoma.
  • Moderna analysis comparing data from the Office for Life Sciences competitiveness indicators and internal Moderna data shows one in five (20%) participants in industry-sponsored clinical research in 2023/24 were enrolled in a Moderna trialii, up from one in seven (14%) in 2022/23, making Moderna the largest industry sponsor of clinical trials in the UK.
  • Supported clinical trial innovation through a partnership with Protas and support to the Vaccine Innovation Fund, administered by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR).
  • Pioneered innovative trial recruitment strategies by leveraging community pharmacies through our partnership with Boots and primary care, embedding research within local communities.
  • Utilised mobile research vehicles to enhance trial participation in Blackpool and Cornwall and collaborated with Be Part of Research to promote diverse and inclusive recruitment.
  • Initiated sponsored projects on mRNA cancer research and next-generation genomic sequencing with Oxford University and Genomics England.
  • Embarked upon four mRNA Access Partnerships with researchers at UK universities – University of Oxford, Imperial College London, University of Surrey and Aberystwyth University – these partnerships aim to broaden access to mRNA technology to develop vaccines for emerging and neglected infectious diseases.
  • Funded three UK-based post-doctoral fellows and two PhD students.

The milestone event coincided with the first meeting of the new administration’s Joint Oversight Committee (JOC), co-chaired by Minister Gould, Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office, and Moderna President, Stephen Hoge. The committee discussed the progress of the partnership and toured the facility, which is expected to be fully operational later this year.

Attributable quotes

Stephen Hoge, M.D. President of Moderna said: "At Moderna, we are immensely proud of our new manufacturing facility and clinical laboratories in Oxfordshire and the significant and ongoing investment into R&D across the UK. By investing heavily across clinical trials and research, we aim to drive breakthroughs that could improve patient outcomes, support the UK healthcare ecosystem and ultimately shape the future of medicine."

Darius Hughes, General Manager of Moderna UK said: " We have made remarkable progress since initiating our unique strategic partnership with the UK government two years ago. Later this year, this state-of-the-art facility will be ready to deliver British-made COVID-19 vaccines, ensuring a robust supply for the UK public.

“Through our partnership, Moderna is committed to becoming an integral part of the UK’s world-leading life sciences ecosystem, working in partnership with the government, academia, and the NHS to explore the full potential of our mRNA platform and co-develop solutions to help transform UK healthcare.”

Professor Dame Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UKHSA, said: "The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how government can and must work closely with industry to respond to emerging health threats. Our partnership with Moderna exemplifies these opportunities and will support the UK’s ambitions towards the 100 Days Mission, help put the UK at the forefront of new technologies and drive economic growth.

"The completion of construction of this impressive facility marks a real milestone and doing so in less than two years is a remarkable achievement. Once regulated, it will help ensure the NHS has rapid access to mRNA vaccines if needed in a future pandemic as well as open doors to new vaccine products. We are also starting to see the results of Moderna’s substantial investment in UK research and development, such as the recent launches of clinical trials for infectious diseases vaccines."

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Last Updated: 03-Feb-2025