Biomanufacturer Sanofi is growing its campus in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains as it looks to increase flu vaccine production.
The French pharmaceutical company broke ground on a two-story formulation and vial and syringe filling facility in Swiftwater, Pennsylvania, last week.
The facility marks one of three major investments at the campus supported by federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Service’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. Sanofi was awarded $226 million from the office in 2019 to boost its flu vaccine production capacity in Swiftwater — specifically for influenza pandemic preventative measures.
The contract supports the clinical development and manufacturing of a flu vaccine that elicits a stronger immune response in patients to help improve influenza pandemic preparedness.
“Past pandemics confirmed that public-private partnerships are key to providing a relevant and quick answer to pandemic situations,” Sanofi’s US Head of Vaccine Manufacturing and Supply Rakesh Kakkar said in a statement in last week’s release. “Our Swiftwater site, and Sanofi teams globally, have the highest level of expertise in helping to protect people against flu and its complications.”
Sanofi is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of seasonal flu vaccines, delivering more than 250 million doses of flu vaccines to over 120 countries per year, according to a release.
In addition to the Swiftwater site, Sanofi makes flu vaccines at four other international locations: Pearl River, New York; Val-de-Reul, France; Ocoyoacac, Mexico; and Shenzhen, China. The biomanufacturer is planning a sixth facility in Canada, which is expected to begin operations in 2026.
“We are committed to maintaining continuous efforts to prepare for the next flu pandemic,” Kakkar said.
