Moderna has officially opened a £150 million manufacturing and innovation facility in Oxfordshire, in a move described as a major boost to the United Kingdom’s life sciences sector. The new site has the capacity to produce up to 100 million mRNA vaccine doses annually, with the option to scale to 250 million in the event of a pandemic.
The facility will focus on research, development, and rapid deployment of vaccines targeting respiratory illnesses such as Covid-19 and influenza. Moderna said the site will also serve as a strategic hub for innovation in mRNA therapeutics.
Stéphane Bancel, Moderna’s chief executive, defended the company’s decision to expand in the UK despite an ongoing dispute between the pharmaceutical industry and the government over drug pricing. He argued that Britain remains a valuable location for investment in research, citing the strength of its academic base and skilled workforce. “The UK is still an excellent place for science and innovation,” he said during the launch.
The opening comes at a sensitive time for the country’s biotech landscape. Several multinational drugmakers, including AstraZeneca, Merck and Sanofi, have paused or withdrawn significant R&D investments, raising concerns about the UK’s competitiveness. Industry leaders have warned that pricing and reimbursement frameworks risk undermining the country’s appeal for major pharmaceutical projects.
In response, ministers have signalled that reforms are under consideration. Proposals include changes to the way health authorities assess the value of medicines, alongside the creation of a new £50 million fund to attract large-scale research projects.
For Moderna, the Oxfordshire site represents both a long-term commitment to the UK and a strategic hedge against future global health threats. The company has emphasised that the facility’s scalable capacity is intended to strengthen pandemic preparedness while supporting jobs and economic growth in the region.
© Copyright BioCareers UK 2025. All rights reserved.
Reporting from Oxford
Latest News
