US-based mRNA therapeutics and vaccines maker Moderna has announced its plans to expand its commercial network across six additional countries in Europe.

The biotech company is expected to establish its commercial presence in Belgium, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden.

With the expanded footprint, the company aims to support the local delivery of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics in those regions.

The announcement follows Moderna’s recent plans to establish four new subsidiaries in Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Moderna chief executive officer Stéphane Bancel said: “Europe has played a critical role in Moderna’s ability to manufacture and deliver our Covid-19 vaccine across the world, protecting millions of people from Covid-19 infection, hospitalisation, and death.

“After a decade of pioneering the development of our mRNA platform, I am proud of the growth we continue to achieve.

“I look forward to furthering our collaborations with European researchers and partners to leverage our mRNA technology and expand treatment options to improve the lives of patients across Europe.”

Moderna said that Europe is an integral part of its business, with established commercial subsidiaries in Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK.

The company has established its presence in Poland last year, through Moderna Poland, which hosts the Moderna International Business Services (MIBS) Centre.

Its current expansion in Europe is driven by scaling up its manufacturing and distribution of its Covid-19 vaccine while advancing other mRNA vaccine candidates and therapeutics.

Moderna has several manufacturing partnerships across Europe, such as Lonza in Switzerland and the Netherlands, ROVI in Spain, and Recipharm in France.

In the European Union (EU), the company’s Covid-19 vaccine and a booster dose were approved for active immunisation to prevent Covid-19 in adults.

The European Commission (EC) has ordered 460 million doses of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine, including boosters, subject to regulatory approval of the booster vaccine.

In a separate development, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has granted provisional registration for the use of Spikevax, Moderna’s mRNA Covid-19 vaccine.

Spikevax (50µg dose) was indicated for active immunisation as a two-dose series in children aged six to 11 years to prevent Covid-19.