US biotech giant Moderna is reportedly planning to invest in its own manufacturing facilities within Germany. According to CEO Stéphane Bancel, the company has a keen interest not only in the vacated plants that its German rival Biontech intends to shut down, but also in the labor force associated with those facilities, should Moderna commit to an investment.
Bancel elaborated that these existing industrial sites would represent an attractive option compared to building new facilities, provided Moderna could secure the right partnership with the German government. Addressing the question of absorbing employees affected by factory closures at the Mainz-based biotech company, Bancel offered a confident assurance: “If we were to invest in a plant-absolutely.”
However, the US pharmaceutical executive emphasized that before any investment decision could be made, Germany would need to improve its regulatory landscape for pharmaceutical firms and define a clearer strategic direction. Moderna confirmed that it is currently in discussions with the government regarding a long-term partnership, similar to those established in the United Kingdom and Canada.
If Berlin fails to meet these criteria, Bancel indicated that Moderna would be forced to look for alternative locations within the broader European market. He warned that the impending loss of mRNA production capacity in Germany and Europe constitutes a “massive sovereignty problem,” a concern sharpened by the fact that at least five mRNA companies are currently being established in China.
