CSL 0.33% $275.39 csl limited

Today's AFR:Shot in the arm for vaccine manufacturing....

  1. 5,352 Posts.
    lightbulb Created with Sketch. 1286
    Today's AFR:

    Shot in the arm for vaccine manufacturing. Healthcare. Tom McIlroy

    Blood products giant CSL is pitching for a key role in Australia’s plans to build domestic manufacturing capability for mRNA vaccines, an ambition boosted by cash in the budget.

    Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced an unspecified amount of funding to help create immediate, large-scale manufacturing of so-called messenger RNA drugs in Australia, technology used in COVID-19 vaccines by companies including Pfizer and Moderna.

    Future mRNA drugs made in Australia could include annual flu vaccines and immunisation for a range of diseases or future pandemics.

    The budget papers left out the figure committed by the government because of commercial-in-confidence negotiations already under way with potential manufacturers.

    CSL subsidiary Seqirus operates Australia’s only onshore influenza vaccine manufacturing facility. The company said COVID-19 has accelerated the technology from a promising science to a viable technology platform that can be produced at industrial scale.

    Seqirus senior vice-president for research and development Russell Basser said research for next-generation mRNA, known as self-amplifying mRNA, for influenza had seen promising pre-clinical results. Human clinical trials are due to start next year.

    ‘‘CSL has a 100-year track record as a proven pandemic partner to Australia,’’ he said.‘‘We look forward to continued collaboration with the government on how mRNA vaccine technology might be delivered to Australia.’

    ’Self-amplifying mRNA has the capacity to replicate or amplify itself when administered. That means far less mRNA may be required in the vaccine formulation to generate equivalent antigen production and an effective immune response.

    Australian Academy of Science president John Shine said although the budget had mixed news for science, work to advance domestic manufacturing of mRNA was welcome.

    ‘‘Developing the capability will allow Australia to build resilience to future pandemics and potential biosecurity threats that require us to have the onshore capacity to mass-produce vaccines,’’ he said.

    Swinburne University School of Health Sciences dean Bruce Thompson said a further $1.9 billion for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout was necessary.‘‘What the pandemic had led to is a transformation of the healthcare system and also highlighted areas which need addressing,’’ he said.

    ‘‘For us to live alongside the COVID-19 pandemic, we need very rapid, simple SARS-COV-2 testing, better treatments and importantly new and better vaccines that are developed and manufactured here in Australia.

    ‘‘Considering the total amount of spending in the budget allocated to the pandemic, it is relatively modest considering the devastating impact that the pandemic has had on our nation’s healthcare system and economy.’’
 
watchlist Created with Sketch. Add CSL (ASX) to my watchlist
(20min delay)
Last
$275.39
Change
0.900(0.33%)
Mkt cap ! $133.0B
Open High Low Value Volume
$274.68 $276.45 $273.87 $115.2M 418.4K

Buyers (Bids)

No. Vol. Price($)
1 619 $275.39
 

Sellers (Offers)

Price($) Vol. No.
$275.49 250 1
View Market Depth
Last trade - 16.10pm 02/05/2024 (20 minute delay) ?
Last
$275.75
  Change
0.900 ( 0.46 %)
Open High Low Volume
$275.75 $276.43 $273.91 97311
Last updated 15.59pm 02/05/2024 ?
CSL (ASX) Chart
arrow-down-2 Created with Sketch. arrow-down-2 Created with Sketch.