Deal: Johnson Winter & Slattery has advised Moderna on its 10-year strategic deal with the Commonwealth government to produce mRNA vaccines.

Value: N/A

Area: Health

Key players: JWS worked with Moderna’s US lawyers, Goodwin Procter LLP.  The JWS team was led by partner Christine Ecob, supported by partner Avendra Singh and special counsel Ken Chan. The team also included partners Craig Wappett, Andy Milidoni, William Oxby, and associates Chiara D’Ercole and Varshini Rajendran.

Deal significance: The strategic partnership deal will see Moderna establish a state-of-the-art mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Victoria capable of producing up to 100 million mRNA vaccines a year. Construction is due to begin by the end of this year.

The Australian facility will give Australia access to large volumes of vaccines produced domestically (currently planned to include COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus vaccines). The facility will also be a key resource in supporting the development and production of vaccines for a future pandemic. As part of the strategic partnership, Moderna also expects to support Australia’s mRNA research, development, and industry ecosystem, including engagement with collaborative research partnerships with Australian institutions and establishing a regional research centre for respiratory medicines and tropical diseases.

Ms Ecob congratulated Moderna on signing its first onshore manufacturing agreement of this nature.

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“This deal will enable Australia to join Moderna’s global research and resilience program that will put us at the forefront of research and development of mRNA vaccines globally and provide a strong base for fighting any new global pandemic. We are delighted to have supported Moderna in this important deal for Australia,” she said.