Moderna Vaccine Production Is Gearing Up, Partner Lonza Says (2)

Lonza Group AG made its first commercial batch of the main ingredient in Moderna Inc.’s Covid-19 vaccine candidate in the U.S. last week and plans to start European production by the end of the month, Chairman Albert Baehny said.

The company is ramping up and fine-tuning its production lines, a process that may stretch into next year.

“We have access to the raw materials; we have access to the people,” Baehny said in an interview. The main challenge is “to optimize as much as possible.”

Lonza’s effort is key to ensuring a smooth rollout of Moderna’s vaccine, should the ...