Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Tom Wolf announced that U.S. Specialty Formulations (USSF), LLC, a pharmaceutical manufacturing company, will expand its operations in Allentown, Lehigh County to continue its work developing a COVID-19 vaccine in partnership with VaxForm, LLC. This project will create at least 97 new, high-paying positions at the site. “There will be a global demand for COVID-19 vaccines, and investments like this can help position our commonwealth for success in recovery from this pandemic,” said Gov. Wolf.
“My administration is eager to support the growth and job creation of businesses stepping up and offering solutions as we continue to battle this virus and keep our communities healthy and safe.”
USSF will expand its 41,000-square-foot facility in Allentown and will request an FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approval to release a COVID-19 oral and injectable vaccine in mid-2021. In order to meet its schedule, the company must make renovations, acquire equipment, and hire new employees.
There is currently a global shortage of pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and very limited capacity for clinical investigators to obtain appropriately documented clinical grade materials.
USSF has been able to address both of these market challenges. USSF has also partnered with fellow Ben Franklin Technology Partners company VaxForm, LLC, to adapt an emergent oral vaccine platform technology to act as a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). This oral platform was originally designed and has been successfully tested to show that it produces the antibodies required to generate immunity to Diphtheria, Tetanus (Lockjaw) and Pertussis (Whooping cough).
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