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UK Government to support expansion of Croda's lipid systems manufacturing facility
Croda will also invest £15.9m in the expansion. This is included within the company’s existing capital expenditure programme outlined in the recent annual results, which will see investment in the coming years in assets and capabilities to support pharmaceutical customers with leading solutions for the delivery and enhancement of novel therapeutic drugs, vaccines and gene therapies. This forms part of Croda’s evolution to a ‘pure play’ Consumer Care and Life Sciences business.
The expansion will include building a state-of-the-art lipid system synthesis facility and enhancing innovation and analytical laboratory capabilities at Leek. The site specialises in the production of lipids, that are currently used in a number of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, as well as other Croda health care technologies such as speciality excipients. The investment will expand the range of speciality lipids produced at the site and add significant additional production capacity.
Lipid systems offer significant potential beyond COVID-19 as the preferred delivery system for gene editing and mRNA therapeutics. The range of applications for lipid systems is expected to expand rapidly as this exciting platform develops through clinical trials to commercial launches of new RNA-based applications, such as flu vaccines and cancer treatments. The investment will also materially strengthen the UK’s supply chain in this critical area and ensure that the country is well prepared in the event of future health emergencies.
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Kwasi Kwarteng said: “The development of mRNA technology for use in vaccines and essential treatments has been one of the greatest scientific leaps forward since the start of the pandemic, and the potential for its use in future therapies – potentially treating cancer and heart disease – is remarkable.
“I am therefore extremely pleased to announce this support for Croda, a market leader in the manufacture of essential mRNA components, and the only manufacturer of lipids currently operating in the UK.”
Commenting, Daniele Piergentili, President of Croda Life Sciences, said: “We are grateful to the UK Government for its support for this important project. It shares our belief that lipid systems offer significant potential for the safe and efficient delivery of next generation vaccines and therapeutic drugs. This investment will meaningfully enhance our lipid system capability and manufacturing capacity, ensuring that Croda plays a central role in both the development and future supply of this important delivery technology.”