Moderna has opened a new vaccine manufacturing facility in Harwell, Oxfordshire, marking the UK’s first site dedicated to producing mRNA vaccines. This development comes as other pharmaceutical companies like Merck, Lilly, and AstraZeneca pause or scale back investments due to ongoing disputes over drug pricing. The Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre (MITC) will produce vaccines for respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus. At full capacity, it can make 100 million doses yearly, with the ability to increase to 250 million during a pandemic. The facility will also support research into mRNA applications for cancer, rare diseases, and immune disorders, along with laboratories for analyzing clinical trial samples. Moderna’s CEO, Stéphane Bancel, highlighted the company’s strong partnership with the UK, noting over 20 clinical trials across 110 sites. He praised the UK’s commitment to health security and innovation. Health Secretary Wes Streeting celebrated the facility as a boost to the UK’s life sciences sector, calling it a pivotal moment for health, innovation, and the economy. The MITC is part of Moderna’s global network, which includes similar sites in Australia and Canada, aimed at improving pandemic preparedness. While Moderna is shielded from the drug pricing row, this new facility provides a positive development for the UK government amid industry challenges.