Poland's Mabion aims to produce Novavax vaccine for Europe from Q3

Mabion SA

01/04/2021 13:58

WARSAW, April 1 (Reuters) - Poland's Mabion  MABP.WA  aims
to start production of U.S. firm Novavax's  NVAX.O  coronavirus
vaccine for Europe from the third quarter, representatives of
the biotechnology company said. 
    Mabion and Novavax last month signed a framework deal on the
transfer of COVID-19 vaccine technology to Mabion's plant in
central Poland, which was designed to produce a rare diseases
drug yet to be registered.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N2L12E6
    "The production of our core product is much more complicated
(than vaccine)," Mabion board member Adam Pietruszkiewicz told
Reuters. 
    Mabion is adding equipment necessary to start Novavax
vaccine production, not without problems, as access to such
machines has been limited. It is taking advantage of Novavax's
strong negotiation position with equipment suppliers. 
    "We still have to buy some equipment intended solely for the
production of vaccines. However, our main machine park is ready.
After completing this process, we should enter the commercial
production phase at the beginning of the second half of the
year," Pietruszkiewicz said.
    Mabion would produce the active substance of the COVID-19
vaccine in the form of a recombinant virus protein. The active
ingredient will be sent in 10 litre bags to a company in
Germany, where the fill and finish will take place. 
    "Typically, companies that specialise in the production of
recombinant proteins very rarely have bottling lines with
significant capacity. As a rule, these are specialised companies
that have the infrastructure to fill vials in large quantities
in a short time," Mabion management board member Slawomir Jaros
said. 
    "The product will be distributed in Europe," Mabion
representatives added. 
    Mabion, which will be one of three Novavax's vaccine
producers in the European Union, has not revealed the size of
the production, but said its 2,500 litre bioreactor is one of
the largest in Europe. 
    Mabion and Novavax have not yet signed a final commercial
agreement, but initial financial conditions have been agreed,
the Polish company said. 

 (Reporting by Agnieszka Barteczko and Anna Koper; editing by
Jason Neely)
 ((agnieszka.barteczko@thomsonreuters.com; +48226539700; Reuters
Messaging: agnieszka.barteczko.reuters.com@thomsonreuters.net))