Seqirus, an influenza vaccine provider announced a £22.1m investment for its UK manufacturing site in Liverpool
Seqirus, which is part of biotherapeutics company CSL, will develop a new £15.3m manufacturing facility to support the production of influenza vaccines at its Speke site.
The announcement came as Seqirus opened a £6.8m investment in new warehousing facilities at the site.
Seqirus said that the total investment in its Speke site is expected to increase the site’s capacity and export potential.
Liverpool mayor, Joe Anderson hailed the investment as further evidence of the city’s status as a centre of excellence for global pharmaceutical companies.
The new formulation facility at the plant is expected to be operational by the middle of next year and according to the company, its development means that a key part of the influenza vaccine manufacturing process will be brought to the UK, having previously been outsourced to Italy.
Liverpool and the city region is home to over 90 life science companies delivering products and services worth in excess of £1.7 billion per annum and contributing over £300 million in GVA to the local economy.
Life sciences minister, George Freeman, said: “This investment is fantastic news for Liverpool and another strong endorsement of the UK’s leadership in vaccine science, following the establishment of Seqirus’ new global office in Maidenhead last year.
“Their decision to reshore manufacturing activity to Liverpool clearly underlines the attractiveness of the UK and its Northern Powerhouse as a manufacturing and export base for global life science companies.”
Anderson said: “This is a significant and extremely welcome investment in our city and a signal of our growing status as a centre for the biosciences and pharmaceutical industries.”
Stephen Marlow, senior vice president of manufacturing operations for Seqirus, said: “Our investment in the new formulation facility will enable us to bring a significant tranche of the influenza vaccine manufacturing process to the UK and in-house.
“It gives us the ability to ensure the highest quality production standards are maintained and is a sign of our commitment to the city and our confidence in Liverpool as a good place for Seqirus to house a major part of our global influenza vaccine manufacturing network.”
Seqirus was created in November 2015 following CSL’s acquisition of the Novartis influenza vaccines business and the subsequent merger with its existing vaccines and pharmaceutical business, bioCSL.