Valneva and Scottish Enterprise in advanced discussions for a major grant to finalize work on the Livingston site


(Boursier.com) – Valneva , a vaccine company, today announced that it is in advanced talks with Scotland’s economic development agency ‘Scottish Enterprise’ for a multimillion-pound grant to complete construction and operationalization of its strategic production site at Livingston in Scotland.
Following the termination of the agreement with the British Government (HMG) for the supply of Valneva’s inactivated COVID-19 vaccine candidate, VLA2001, Valneva has suspended plans to expand its Scottish site. Valneva and Scottish Enterprise have since engaged in a very constructive dialogue aimed, through this grant, to make the Livingston site a key site for vaccine production from a long-term perspective.

Thus, Valneva and Scottish Enterprise would jointly invest in the new plant. Scottish Enterprise’s contribution is expected to come through a series of grants totaling £ 10-20million to enable Valneva to start production at the plant. Discussions between Valneva and the Scottish Government also include the possible supply to Scotland of doses of VLA2001, subject to obtaining a marketing authorization. Valneva has also offered to offer 25,000 doses of VLA2001 for the primary vaccination of employees of the Scottish National Health Service and frontline people, subject to obtaining marketing authorization. The grant agreement should also include employment commitments, and the grant is subject to the signing of the contract and a final audit.

David Lawrence, Acting Chief Financial Officer, said, “We are delighted to have been able to move quickly our discussions with Scottish Enterprise, following the unexpected decision by the UK government to terminate our supply agreement. Over the past two months we presented excellent Phase 3 and homologous booster data, highlighting the potential importance of VLA2001, our inactivated and adjuvanted whole virus vaccine. Subject to regulatory approval, we want to make VLA2001 available to people who need it, as soon as possible. We already have a stock of vaccines that can be distributed as soon as a marketing authorization has been obtained. This subsidy will be welcome and, subject to the conclusion of the contract, it will enable Livingston to become a strategic vaccine manufacturing site, complementing the work we started with HMG. “

Ivan McKee, Scottish Government Secretary of State for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, commented: “Valneva makes a valuable contribution to our life sciences sector and the Livingston factory is an important asset as it develops vaccines that address several important infectious diseases and supports high-quality jobs. The Secretaries of State (Scottish) and Scottish Enterprise are in advanced discussions with the company to agree on a package of measures to support the activities of the company in Scotland. ”

Hannah Bardell, Member of Parliament for Livingston, added, “I am delighted that the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise have listened to my constituency colleagues and myself in agreeing to invest in the Valneva vaccine manufacturing site in Livingston. This funding will allow Valneva to complete its expansion, increase vital production capacity and protect skilled jobs. It was a pleasure working with everyone involved in securing this deal and I cannot only hope that the British government will see the confidence that we in Scotland have in Valneva. “

Valneva continues to try to reach an out-of-court settlement with HMG regarding the termination of the supply agreement and the execution of the ongoing clinical trial funding agreement. Valneva continues to reserve all its rights of legal action in the event that an amicable solution is not found.



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