Media Release by Vaxxas
Vaxxas will receive an AU$8.2 million second-round grant as part of the Commonwealth Government’s Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) to support the manufacturing scale-up of its potentially game-changing technology that enables vaccines to be applied to the skin using a small patch.
In 2021, Vaxxas received AU$4.4 million first round funding to support the specialised infrastructure necessary to manufacture its high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP) device at its state-of-the-art biomedical facility currently under construction at Northshore, Brisbane.
This additional support will allow the team to develop and establish a sterile production line using proprietary aseptic fill and finish processes at the facility, further advancing the company’s vaccine coating, device sealing and quality control technologies.
The Brisbane production facility will support late-stage clinical trials and first commercial products.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Commonwealth Government for their ongoing support of our vaccination technology,” Vaxxas Chief Technology Officer Angus Forster said.
“It is fantastic to see the Government backing innovations by local companies that have the potential to make a difference to lives here in Australia and around the world.”
The Vaxxas HD-MAP vaccination technology has the potential to fundamentally improve pandemic and routine vaccination through production efficiencies, breadth and speed of access, and population coverage.
The Vaxxas Biomedical Facility in Northshore, Brisbane is due to open in early 2023. In addition to relocating its existing workforce of more than 100 employees to the site, the new facility will support the creation of 29 new highly-skilled jobs and the ongoing growth and development of the biotech and medtech sectors in South East Queensland.
Launched in October 2020, the Commonwealth Government’s Modern Manufacturing Initiative aims to drive lasting change to Australia’s manufacturing sector by co-funding large manufacturing projects with a particular focus on supporting business to scale. It has six key areas of focus: Resources Technology & Critical Minerals Processing; Food & Beverage; Medical products; Recycling & Clean Energy; Defence; and Space.
Vaxxas will work with the Department of Industry, Science and Resources over the coming weeks to finalise grant details.
