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The Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre in Oxfordshire (VMIC), UK has selected Lonza’s MODA-EM™ Solution to digitize its Microbiology Quality Control operations. The MODA EM™ Platform will form a vital part of ongoing work that will support the accelerated timelines of VMIC coming online – a year ahead of schedule

Lonza and the Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (VMIC), a not-for-profit organization established to provide the UK’s first strategic vaccine development and advanced manufacturing capability, announced a project to implement the MODA-EM™ Solution to automate quality control (QC) in the new facility.

VMIC plans to implement the MODA-EM™ Solution as part of its strategy to develop a state-of-the-art manufacturing center due to open in 2021 – fast-tracked to open a year ahead of schedule. The MODA-EM™ Solution is a comprehensive informatics platform that automates QC processes for regulated manufacturing in the Life Sciences industry. This fully digital QC system enables companies to reduce the time needed for validation and qualification and provides a forward-thinking paperless solution.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated multiple industry trends, including digitalization and automation. Implementing paperless solutions can help researchers meet aggressive timelines and fit into Industry 4.0 initiatives. Lonza’s comprehensive, next-generation solution for pharmaceutical QC will allow paperless management of a wealth of microbiological data. The electronic approach reinforces data integrity compliance, enables real-time access to data, and provides fast input necessary to make informed decisions.

The automation of the QC laboratory has seen slow adoption by organizations due to cost constraints and flexibility concerns. The MODA-EM™ Data Acquisition Platform for automated and paperless QC processes is changing this, thanks to the ease of implementation to achieve regulatory compliance and maximize employee utilization.

Quote from Dr. Orla Cloak, Global Director of Testing Solutions and Informatics, Lonza:

"We're proud that VMIC has made the decision to adopt Lonza's MODA-EM™ Quality Control Microbiology Platform. This project comes at a critical time when vaccine developers and manufacturers are scaling up to meet vital global health needs. We look forward to working with VMIC to enable vaccine producers with best practices and the highest levels of data integrity in paperless manufacturing and quality as they serve an important role in the future of public health."

Quote from Birgit Hartnell, Head of Quality Control, VMIC:

“A new facility like VMIC faces the challenge of implementing a successful contamination control strategy built on meaningful data analysis. Add to this the urgent need to be operationally ready in a very short timeframe in order to have the ability to manufacture a vaccine for COVID-19, and you need a system that can be integrated quickly and still delivers the highest standard of compliance. Lonza was able to demonstrate they could deliver this through a rigorous tendering process, and I look forward to working with them."

About Lonza

At Lonza, we combine technological innovation with world class manufacturing and process excellence. Together, these enable our customers to deliver their discoveries in the healthcare, preservation, and protection sectors.

We are a preferred global partner to the pharmaceutical, biotech and specialty ingredients markets. We work to prevent illness and promote a healthier world by enabling our customers to deliver innovative medicines that help treat or even cure a wide range of diseases. We also offer a broad range of microbial control solutions, which help to create and maintain a healthy environment.

Founded in 1897 in the Swiss Alps, Lonza today operates in 120 sites and offices in more than 35 countries. With approximately 15,500 full-time employees, we are built from high-performing teams and of individual employees who make a meaningful difference to our own business, as well as the communities in which we operate. The company generated sales of CHF 5.9 billion in 2019 with a CORE EBITDA of CHF 1.6 billion.

Learn more about Lonza