Moderna to rev up vaccine supply to up to 3 billion doses by 2022

Moderna revealed today that it expects to increase its 2022 global Covid vaccine capacity to as many as 3 billion doses, after making a commitment to increasing supply at its owned and partnered manufacturing facilities. The vaccine maker pointed out that achieving this benchmark all depends on the mix between the authorized vaccine at the 100 μg dose level and possibly lower doses of the company’s variant booster candidates and pediatric vaccines, if approved.

These investments allow for the drug substance manufacturing to be doubled at Lonza’s Switzerland location, more than doubling its formulation, fill-and-finish and drug substance manufacturing at Rovi’s Spain-based facility and a 50% increase of drug substance at Moderna’s US locations. The company will start making investments at its facilities this year, with increased production from them expected to ramp up in late 2021 and early 2022.

In other breaking news from Moderna, it has increased its 2021 manufacturing supply forecast to between 800 million to 1 billion doses, and has also noted that there is now data to support a three-month refrigerated (2-8°C, 36-46°F) shelf life for the vaccine in alternative formats to simplify distribution to doctor’s offices and the like, if authorized. As of now, the vaccine is approved for storage up to one month at refrigerated temperatures and up to seven months in a standard freezer (-20°C, -4°F). Once removed from the refrigerator, it can be kept at room temperature for up to 24 hours.