December 5th, 2021Australia’s first mRNA vaccine candidate

Victorian scientists and manufacturers have created Australia’s first mRNA COVID-19 vaccine candidate – Australia’s
first ever mRNA drug product – in just five months, enabling clinical trials to begin in the new year.

Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford today announced 450 doses of the
COVID-19 vaccine candidate have been produced in Boronia, enabling 150 people to take part in Phase 1 clinical
trials run by the Doherty Institute, with results expected later in 2022.
The Andrews Labor Government invested $5 million to enable manufacture of the vaccine candidate, with
dedicated equipment shipped to manufacturer IDT Australia from Canada. The machine processed nanoparticles
into final liquid drug form, sterilised the product and filled vials with mRNA vaccine.
Victoria is one of the few places in the world with the capability to develop and manufacture mRNA therapeutics
and vaccines and the mRNA-based vaccine breakthrough demonstrates Victoria’s leadership in the mRNA sector.
The project has been led by mRNA Victoria in partnership with Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS),
the Doherty Institute and IDT Australia – a landmark collaboration between Victoria’s renowned medical research
and manufacturing sectors.
The State Government established mRNA Victoria to drive the establishment of a sovereign mRNA manufacturing
industry and earlier this year supported a number of proposals from Victorian industry and consortia as part of the
Commonwealth’s Approach to Market (ATM) on mRNA manufacturing capability.
Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford said:
“This is an Australian first that confirms Victoria as a leader in mRNA therapeutics and manufacturing – it is an
incredible achievement to have made an mRNA vaccine candidate that is ready for clinical trials.”
“We’re serious about developing our mRNA manufacturing capacity and doing it quickly as we can, because it will
save lives.”
Doherty Institute Head of Vaccine and Immunisation Research Group Professor Terry Nolan said:
“This is a major milestone in Australia’s ability to manufacture home-grown COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and we are
excited to commence Phase 1 clinical trials of this candidate, along with the protein vaccine candidate developed
by the Doherty Institute, in the coming months.”
Monash University Professor of Pharmaceutical Biology Colin Pouton said:
“We have worked with determination and in close collaboration with IDT to develop the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine
candidate – reaching this milestone demonstrates that the skills and experience to make mRNA products are
available in Victoria.”
IDT Australia CEO Dr David Sparling said:
“We’re honored to be a part of this collaboration. We believe this product will be the first locally developed mRNA
COVID-19 vaccine candidate and the first locally manufactured cGMP mRNA drug product.”