BILLINGHAM, England, Feb. 13,
2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies,
a world leading contract development and manufacturing organization
(CDMO) for biologics, viral vaccines and viral vectors, welcomed UK
Prime Minister Boris Johnson to
Teesside at its Billingham site, on Saturday 13 February to meet
the team working to support the manufacture of a COVID-19 vaccine
candidate.
During the visit, the Prime Minister toured the FUJIFILM
Diosynth Biotechnologies facilities where the antigen component
(active ingredient) of Novavax' NVX-CoV2373 COVID-19 vaccine will
be manufactured as well as other life-impacting therapies.
Fujifilm's leading technical expertise in baculovirus systems and
biopharmaceutical manufacturing excellence is contracted by Novavax
to produce antigen for up to 180 million vaccine doses.
The Prime Minister toured the laboratories and manufacturing
facilities and was explained the science and technology behind
Fujifilm's work by a small number of the site's 850-strong
workforce who are playing a crucial role in vaccine production.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson
said:
"I was delighted to visit Fujifilm today, and hear from
Paul Found, Sarah Maxfield, Abigail
Tyerman, Jonathan Haigh and
others about the work being done to manufacture the Novavax
vaccine, currently in Phase 3 clinical trials.
"If approved, Novavax will further strengthen our already
record breaking vaccine rollout. The work of the team here to get
this vaccine ready showcases some of the very best of British
science and manufacturing.
I'm hugely proud of the efforts here at Fujifilm, as we all
come together to beat this pandemic. I urge you all to keep up this
vital work, helping to get those vaccines into arms and protecting
our most vulnerable."
Paul Found, chief operating
officer, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, UK, said:
"As we prepare for production, we were extremely honoured to
host the Prime Minister at our state-of-the-art development and
manufacturing facilities on Teesside. During the tour, the Prime
Minister had great interest in seeing our science and technology at
work, and speaking with a small number of our talented team who are
working on the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine programme. The entire
Fujifilm team feels a strong sense of pride that we are
contributing to help address the pandemic."
Novavax initiated Phase 3 clinical trial in the UK in
September 2020. In January 2021, the company announced that
NVX-CoV2373 met the primary endpoint, with a vaccine efficacy in
the UK Phase 3 trial as a result of the first interim analysis. The
vaccine was shown to be 89.3% effective in preventing coronavirus
in participants, as well as efficacy against new UK variant.
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies is also manufacturing the
antigen component of the Novavax vaccine candidate at its
North Carolina and Texas in the U.S.
For more information, please visit www.fujifilmdiosynth.com.
About FUJIFILM
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies is an
industry-leading Biologics Contract Development and
Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with locations in Teesside, UK,
RTP, North Carolina, College Station, Texas and Hillerød,
Denmark. FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies has over thirty
years of experience in the development and manufacturing of
recombinant proteins, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, among other
large molecules, viral products and medical countermeasures
expressed in a wide array of microbial, mammalian, and host/virus
systems. The company offers a comprehensive list of services from
cell line development using its proprietary pAVEway™ microbial and
Apollo™X cell line systems to process development, analytical
development, clinical and FDA-approved commercial manufacturing.
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies is a partnership between FUJIFILM
Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation. For more information,
go to: www.fujifilmdiosynth.com.
FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, Tokyo,
Japan, brings cutting edge solutions to a broad range of
global industries by leveraging its depth of knowledge and
fundamental technologies developed in its relentless pursuit of
innovation. Its proprietary core technologies contribute to the
various fields including healthcare, graphic systems, highly
functional materials, optical devices, digital imaging and document
products. These products and services are based on its extensive
portfolio of chemical, mechanical, optical, electronic and imaging
technologies. For the year ended March 31,
2020, the company had global revenues of $21 billion, at an exchange rate of 109 yen to the dollar. Fujifilm is committed to
responsible environmental stewardship and good corporate
citizenship. For more information, please visit:
www.fujifilmholdings.com.
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