Vaxxas, which is a clinical-stage biotechnology company commercializing a novel vaccination platform, has been awarded $4.4 million under the federal government’s Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI).
The company said it will match the investment bringing the total to almost $9 million that will go towards infrastructure to fabricate its high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP) for vaccination.
Vaxxas core technology was initially developed at the University of Queensland.
“A key element of our Modern Manufacturing Strategy is to advance Australia’s production capabilities toward becoming a high quality, global leader in fields like biotech,” said the federal member for Brisbane Trevor Evans.
“This award, not only enables new advanced manufacturing technologies to be deployed in Queensland driving creation of new high-paying jobs, but in the case of Vaxxas also helps to address critical supply-chain issues for vaccination we’re seeing globally in the current pandemic.”
The Vaxxas infrastructure is targeted for installation at a new purpose-built facility in the Northshore Hamilton Priority Development Area in a building owned by Economic Development Queensland. The facility will house cleanrooms for sterile manufacture of the most advanced medical device and pharmaceutical products.
“We are extremely encouraged by this MMI award that enables Vaxxas to continue to grow our operations in Queensland,” said David L. Hoey, President and CEO of Vaxxas. "The stringency of global regulatory requirements for manufacture of medical products requires specialized infrastructure that is readily available overseas, but not locally.”