CPI launches RNA Centre of Excellence
21 Sept 2023
Opened in Darlington, this first-of-its-kind facility will drive UK leadership in pandemic preparation and RNA therapeutic innovation.
![CPI's RNA Centre of Excellence CPI's RNA Centre of Excellence](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/RNA-CoE.jpg?w=1920&h=1080&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1695291959&s=437e9d09f1beb18ddefe8c776c75a1a9 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/RNA-CoE.jpg?w=1120&h=630&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1695291959&s=3bc1142217faeb8efc97c8d1b14650cb 1120w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/RNA-CoE.jpg?w=2240&h=1260&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1695291959&s=bc13aa26bc51b08b6da2725b8839d189 2240w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/RNA-CoE.jpg?w=800&h=450&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1695291959&s=a102a9aefbcf0ef54be8459b8c940f19 800w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/RNA-CoE.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1695291959&s=7f7e67f1899dc1fb2a87eddce82955ee 1600w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/RNA-CoE.jpg?w=480&h=270&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1695291959&s=26cbf02043e54b125ac62e5dc2678762 480w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/RNA-CoE.jpg?w=960&h=540&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1695291959&s=fd82725fb571a87eca0de3974421d13b 960w)
A new centre to develop cutting-edge vaccines and therapeutics opened today in Darlington, UK.
The £26.4 million RNA Centre of Excellence will form a UK hub with the capability to develop and manufacture treatments for incurable or hard-to-treat illnesses.
The Centre has the capacity to deliver 100 million vaccine doses in the event of a future health emergency. But it will also supply material for clinical trials, working on treatments against infectious and non-infectious diseases – a critical step in getting new, more effective drugs to patients.
At launch, the Centre is the only open access facility in the UK which can produce lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated messenger and self-amplifying RNA vaccines and therapies. Providing much-needed infrastructure and outstanding expertise, it will promote access to innovative vaccines in both the UK and around the world.
This unique suite of innovation support combines product and process development with scale up and clinical production in both mRNA manufacture and lipid encapsulation at a single site. This will help cement UK leadership in the development and commercialisation of innovative RNA products and processes and attract inward investment and promote resilience and sustainable growth in the UK healthcare ecosystem.
Pivotal support and expertise
Having played a key role in the accelerated development of COVID-19 vaccines as part of the UK Government’s Vaccine Taskforce, CPI has built the knowledge and networks to support every stage of RNA development and scale-up. We are already working with pioneering partners to drive forward a variety of RNA projects, including a first-of-its-kind saRNA flu vaccine in collaboration with VaxEquity.
Funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the RNA Centre of Excellence provides pivotal support and expertise in the UK for groundbreaking development, scale-up, and manufacture of new RNA therapies and vaccines.
To celebrate the launch, an event was held on Thursday, 21 September to open the new facility. George Freeman MP, Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, was in attendance to cut the ribbon and officially open the new Centre.
![Minister George Freeman with CPI Leadership Team Members Minister George Freeman with CPI Leadership Team Members](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/George-Freman-at-RNA-CoE-Launch.jpg?w=1920&h=1080&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1695292599&s=25e11e0d32147daed20ada11f231d052 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/George-Freman-at-RNA-CoE-Launch.jpg?w=1120&h=630&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1695292599&s=4b80a82066e35085246ed3bbb34b92bd 1120w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/George-Freman-at-RNA-CoE-Launch.jpg?w=2240&h=1260&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1695292599&s=ea942c9bcda3d9603ab311d99a6aaead 2240w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/George-Freman-at-RNA-CoE-Launch.jpg?w=800&h=450&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1695292599&s=1d2d6c44eb1b3932b2a4ee583958ecec 800w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/George-Freman-at-RNA-CoE-Launch.jpg?w=1600&h=900&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1695292599&s=491a0da692c7083c154e44f5909cb61e 1600w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/George-Freman-at-RNA-CoE-Launch.jpg?w=480&h=270&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1695292599&s=9fdcf4f4f69a7b1493e5012fc5ad931d 480w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/George-Freman-at-RNA-CoE-Launch.jpg?w=960&h=540&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1695292599&s=8ec7a00f0944fc126d72b75544d15728 960w)
Frank Millar, CEO at CPI said:
“Lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated messenger and self-amplifying RNA vaccines and therapies have huge potential. These new technologies, which were utilised throughout the COVID-19 pandemic are set to light the touchpaper on the race to develop therapeutics and treatments for incurable diseases.
“This is a landmark day for CPI and our work to drive forward new technologies in health, and I would like to thank those involved who have worked tirelessly to see this centre through to its launch today. But, it is also a landmark day in scaling up the UKs ability to develop new vaccines and therapeutics, as well as safeguard us against future health emergencies.
“These new techniques for developing treatments could provide the UK, and the world with the ability to save or make life-changing improvements to patient outcomes.”
Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, George Freeman, said:
“We have learnt the lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic, remembering the crucial role rapid vaccine development, delivered at scale, had in saving lives and safely restoring our freedoms.
“That is why we are building on the UK’s life sciences prowess and backing the RNA Centre of Excellence through £26 million of Government funding, which will strengthen future pandemic preparedness, boost pioneering work to tackle the most hard-to-treat diseases and grow our economy through innovation.”
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