CSL Seqirus gets $155.4M for pandemic vaccine production

CSL Seqirus, a global vaccine maker with a massive manufacturing plant in Holly Springs, has received two federal grants totaling $155.4 million to expand production of a human vaccine against avian influenza, or bird flu, in case of a major outbreak of the disease.

The two awards bring to six the total number of pandemic preparedness grants the company has received from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

A multi-year grant for $121.4 million will allow CSL Seqirus to increase the inventory of its proprietary MF59 adjuvant, a key component of influenza vaccine, to the equivalent of 40 million doses as part of the National Pre-Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Stockpile.

The second grant, for $34 million, will allow the company to deliver about 3 million finished doses of the MF59 vaccine and an additional lot of antigen.

“Once again, we’re honored to partner with BARDA on pandemic preparedness,” said Marc Lacey, global executive director for pandemic at CSL Seqirus. “This expanded program will increase outbreak resilience and help to protect against threats such as avian influenza.”

The vaccines will be produced at the company’s Holly Springs facility, a colossal campus that spans more than half a million square feet – larger than eight football fields. The plant, located on 170 acres about 24 miles south of Research Triangle Park, supports about 1,000 jobs.

“Pandemic preparedness is a core part of who we are,” said Jon Kegerise, vice president of manufacturing and site head at CSL Seqirus Holly Springs. “Our Holly Springs site was built to be able to deliver innovative pandemic solutions at industrial scale and speed.”

Farm animals, workers are vulnerable

The avian influenza A(H5) virus is widespread in wild birds around the world and is causing multistate outbreaks in poultry and dairy cows in the United States. Several human cases of bird flu infection have been reported in the U.S., primarily among agricultural workers exposed to infected livestock.

While the current public health risk of bird flu is low, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to watch the situation and work with states to monitor people with animal exposures.

“Pandemics are a natural phenomenon and have occurred at infrequent and unpredictable intervals throughout human history, presenting a real and serious risk to public health,” said Dave Ross, general manager of CSL Seqirus. “Recent avian influenza outbreaks underscore the importance of pandemic preparedness. With this expanded award, BARDA is once again entrusting us to work in collaboration to protect public health.”

Influenza is a contagious airborne respiratory disease. The risk of influenza-related illness and death is greater with pandemic influenza than with seasonal influenza because there is likely to be little or no pre-existing immunity to the novel virus in the human population.

The timing and severity of pandemic influenza are unpredictable. Four pandemics have occurred over the last century, the worst being the 1918 pandemic, which killed up to 50 million people worldwide.  

Avian influenza spreads predominantly among birds. The viruses do not normally infect humans but can infect humans in rare cases.

Since April, 14 human cases of avian influenza virus infection have been reported in the United States, according to the CDC. Four of these cases were associated with exposure to sick dairy cows and nine to sick poultry. One was of uncertain origin.

Illness in humans from bird flu has varied in severity, from no symptoms or mild illness to severe disease and death. The spread of avian influenza from one human to another is rare and typically has only spread to a few people.

CSL Seqirus provides influenza vaccines in more than 20 countries around the world.

The company is one of three healthcare businesses owned by CSL Ltd. of Melbourne, Australia. The parent company has over 32,000 employees working in more than 40 countries.

In 2024 CSL Ltd. reported a net profit after tax of $2.64 billion on $14.8 billion in revenue.