Budget boost for biotech development welcomed

A South Canterbury biotechnology company working towards being the first in New Zealand to manufacture a Covid19 vaccine is pleased to see the Government investing in biotechnology infrastructure.

Dr William Rolleston, cofounder and co-director of South Pacific Sera, said the funding for RNA technology and development in the Budget is a step in the right direction

In January Rolleston said New Zealand is one step closer to producing its own mRNA vaccine with the arrival of the NanoAssembler Blaze which is a machine that produces lipid nanoparticles (microscopic balls of fat) to protect mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) which is genetic material used in vaccines, clinical medicines and research.

The $1 million machine has been funded by private donors to the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, a biomedical research institute that is part of the Vaccine Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand – Ohu Kaupare Huaketo (Vaanz).

South Pacific Sera is part of that consortium, working collaboratively with the institute, and Otago and Victoria universities, Avalia Immunotherapies, ESR and AgResearch, as well as a number of local and international collaborators to research and develop a Covid vaccine in, and for, New Zealand and the Pacific.

Rolleston said that they are ‘‘moving along’’ and ‘‘progressing’’ with the New Zealand-made Covid-19 vaccination.

The Government announced in last week’s Budget that $40.7m over four years will go towards an initiative which will provide funding to create an RNA technology platform.

This platform will support delivery through to pilot scale manufacturing, develop new manufacturing technologies, and lower technology transfer barriers.

‘‘RNA technology will become as ubiquitous in medicine as the MRI scanner is today,’’ Rolleston said.

‘‘The development of the mRNA Covid vaccine has been a robust proving ground for the technology which can be applied well beyond vaccines to cancer, genetic and autoimmune diseases.

‘‘RNA technology has the potential to reduce the burden on the health system in many areas and improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders,’’ he said.

‘‘Our primary industries also stand to benefit from a homegrown capability in RNA technology. We will have the ability to address New Zealand challenges such as Mycoplasma bovis which don’t attract overseas solutions.’’

Rolleston believes the Government funding of biotechnology is becoming essential.

‘‘[I] think it is an essential area for New Zealand to invest in.

‘‘But for us, it is a matter of how we can help [the Government] and make this successful for New Zealand.’’