BioCina takes over Pfizer site, will add mRNA vaccine capabilities

Adelaide pharmaceutical group BioCina has announced the final transfer to it of ownership of the microbial-based pharmaceutical manufacturing facility formally operated by Hospira Adelaide, an affiliate of Pfizer Inc.

The former-Pfizer site in Adelaide will now be operated by the company as a contract development and biologics manufacturing organization (CDMO) specialising in process development and cGMP manufacturing of microbial-based therapeutics and mRNA vaccines.

BioCina, part of the Bridgewest Group portfolio companies, said the plant can deliver life-saving therapies in rapid time.

Added capabilities for BioCina now include manufacturing of cGMP-grade plasmid DNA, which is produced using microbial fermentation.

Plasmid DNA is both an attractive new therapeutic modality and a critical input material for the manufacture of modern gene therapies including mRNA vaccines, CAR-T cell therapies and viral gene replacement therapies.

To meet the unprecedented need for mRNA manufacturing capability and capacity now and into the future, BioCina’s founder Masood Tayebi and CEO, Ian Wisenberg, will expand current capabilities and services to include the end-to-end manufacture of mRNA vaccines.

Wisenberg said: “We are now in full flight with unfettered ability to provide superior development and manufacturing services.

“BioCina has a strategic focus and significant investment in mRNA process development and manufacturing for vaccines and therapeutics to support solutions using this mRNA platform for our clients.”

The state trade minister Stephen Patterson welcomed the news that BioCina will expand to include manufacture of mRNA vaccines.

“The state government is committed to putting the health and medical industries sector at the forefront of South Australia’s economic growth, as one of our nine key sectors.”

The BioCina Adelaide facility has a physical footprint of almost 60,000 square feet for GMP manufacturing, process development, warehouse and administration.

The BioCina Adelaide site is the only TGA, EMA, Health Canada and US-FDA approved commercial facility of its kind in Australia.

Picture: Biocina

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