Evonik Invests in Additional Lipid Production for mRNA-based Vaccines

Evonik has revealed plans for investment in the short-term expansion of its specialty lipids production, which are used with mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. The announcement was made in a Feb. 11, 2021 press release.

The company’s sites in Hanau and Dossenheim (Germany) will start producing commercial quantities of lipids from the second half of 2021 as a part of a strategic partnership with vaccine manufacturer BioNTech. Through this latest investment, the strategic partnership between Evonik and BioNTech will be strengthened and the supply security of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be increased.

“The pandemic requires decisive action,” said Christian Kullmann, chairman of Evonik’s executive board, in the press release. “We are therefore doing everything possible to supply our partners with the critical lipids they need. At the same time, we are expanding our production capacity and competencies along the entire value chain.”

“With our partnership with BioNTech, we are systematically expanding our leading position as an integrated development partner in cell and gene therapies,” added Thomas Riermeier, head of Evonik's Health Care business line, in the press release. “Evonik’s portfolio includes pharmaceutical excipients such as lipids, as well as CDMO services for the formulation development, GMP manufacturing, and aseptic filling of complex parenteral drug products.”

Source: Evonik