Pfizer's $150 million upgrade for its pharma facility in Vic

Pfizer Australia announced a major upgrade to its manufacturing facility in Melbourne, Victoria.

The company has invested $150 million to offer advanced pharmaceutical production facilities in Australia for new antimicrobial treatments aiming to help address rising levels of antimicrobial resistance, considered one of the biggest threats to global health.

The investment in the Melbourne site has included the construction of a separate facility that hosts two newly installed freeze-drying machines known as lyophilisers, which are used in the antimicrobial manufacturing process. The site has also been selected for a trial of artificial intelligence (AI) technology designed to support key site processes and robotics for productivity enhancements to help further the site’s highly specialised manufacturing capabilities.

The site upgrades are on track to complete installation work and be operational by mid-2025, with commercial manufacture scheduled to commence in 2026.

Anne Harris, Pfizer Australia & New Zealand Managing Director, said: “We are thrilled to reach this important milestone in our investment to support the development and delivery of new antimicrobials at our Melbourne site, and to be investing in Australia’s advanced manufacturing capabilities.

“A key strategic pillar of Pfizer’s product innovation work is our effort to help slow the spread of antimicrobial resistance, one of the biggest global health threats of our time. We are also pleased to be providing 500 advanced manufacturing jobs at our Melbourne site.”

Medicines currently manufactured at the Melbourne site are exported to more than 60 countries worldwide and treat up to 15 million patients each year.

Image credit: Pfizer Australia.