Following an agreement between Moderna and the government, the pharmaceutical company is to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing and research and development centre in the UK.

The new mRNA Innovation and Technology Centre will develop mRNA vaccines for respiratory diseases including COVID-19. Construction is expected to begin this year, with the first mRNA vaccine due to be produced in the UK in 2025.

The centre will also have the ability produce vaccines targeting a range of other illnesses, such as flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and will be able to quickly scale up production in case of a health emergency.

Moderna supplied COVID-19 vaccines in the initial vaccine rollout in the UK, as well as in subsequent booster campaigns.

Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna, said:

"The UK has established a world-class life sciences and research community. We are committed to global public health, and as we continue to expand internationally, we are pleased to bring local mRNA manufacturing to the UK."

The agreement with Moderna, which plans to deliver a large share of its clinical trials in the UK, was negotiated by the Vaccine Taskforce and supported by the Office for Life Sciences.