Freshfields is advising Moderna on its ten-year agreement with the State of Victoria to establish a state-of-the-art, domestic mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility at Monash University, where it will produce up to 100 million mRNA respiratory vaccine doses annually. Construction is expected to commence before the end of 2022, with a target date of the end of 2024 for the facility to become operational, subject to planning and regulatory approvals. The facility, when constructed, is expected to provide people in Australia with access to a domestically manufactured portfolio of mRNA vaccines against respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, seasonal influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other potential respiratory viruses, pending licensure. The Freshfields team was led by life sciences transactions Partner Kristen Riemenschneider, Senior Associate Jeff Jay and Associates Tanny Kang and Max Sanders. ENDS