Texas A&M will be home to $91 million vaccine-manufacturing facility

Source: Austin American-Statesman

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has approved the creation of a $91 million influenza-vaccine manufacturing facility in a joint venture between the Texas A&M University System and GlaxoSmithKline in what Chancellor John Sharp described Tuesday as “one of the most significant developments ever in the state of Texas.”

The facility will speed up the research, development and delivery of vaccines and therapeutics in cases of pandemics or other national emergencies.

The center would also supply preventive vaccine for pandemic influenza, and, once it’s up and running, will be able to supply 50 million vaccine doses within four months of receiving a strain of the flu, with initial doses ready in 12 weeks.

The facility will anchor the Center for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing in Bryan-College Station, establishing what Sharp characterized as “third coast biopharmaceuticals.” A&M is home to one of only three so-called CIADMS being created in the nation.

Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/news/texas-am-will-be-home-to-91-million-vaccine-manufa/nW4g8/

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Another article from the Bryan-College Station The Eagle:

The Texas A&M University system has announced a partnership with pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline to establish a $91 million influenza vaccine-manufacturing facility in Bryan-College Station. Gov. Rick Perry said the company will generate billions of dollars worth of expenditures per year and will create close to 7,000 jobs.

The TAMUS influenza vaccine-manufacturing center will facilitate a rapid national vaccine response in the event of a pandemic.

The announcement was made at a press conference in Austin Tuesday morning, more than a hundred miles away from the the Center of Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing in the Bryan-College Station biocorridor.

The 196-acre corridor is along the shared border near Easterwood Airport. City officials worked alongside Texas A&M for years to develop the area in hopes of luring biotechnology companies and startups to Bryan-College Station.

http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/article_5d82ab82-9622-11e2-9023-0019bb2963f4.html