Massachusetts Biologic Laboratories

Established more than 100 years ago to serve the public health interests of the commonwealth, the Massachusetts Biologic Laboratories (MBL) develop and manufacture vaccines and other biologic products, primarily for the state to distribute through its Universal Childhood Immunization Program. From 1959 to 1996, the MBL was administered by the Massachusetts Health Research Institute, a private, non-profit that was under contract to the Department of Public Health to run vaccine development programs there.  In 1997, control of the MBL was transferred to the University of Massachusetts. Today, the MBL is self-funded through grants and contracts. 

With facilities in Jamaica Plain and Mattapan, the MBL is one of only a few publicly operated, FDA-licensed vaccine manufacturing facilities in the country, and is the only one of its kind still operated by a state government. Throughout its history, the MBL has introduced into general statewide-use vaccines to prevent diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and other diseases. 

The labs also work to translate basic research ideas into new vaccines and plasma products for commercialization and distribution nationwide. MBL scientists have pioneered products such as a respiratory syncytial virus immune globulin, the first drug to protect infants and toddlers from serious complications of respiratory viruses. 

Working with colleagues from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a team of scientists at the MBL have also developed a novel human monoclonal antibody that can neutralize multiple variants of the rabies virus. Monoclonal antibodies can be produced in large quantities at lower costs than blood products and are easily distributed to remote sites. UMMS and MBL have developed partnership opportunities with India, where the disease is widespread. 

The labs also develop and manufacture "orphan" drugs, which are for diseases that affect relatively few people in the United States. Such drugs have become a public health responsibility because they hold little appeal for development by private drug companies. 

In 2005, MBL opened a new facility with a state-of-the-art aseptic filling operation for vaccines and other therapeutics manufactured by the MBL. The building also houses a major new monoclonal antibody manufacturing operation, believed to be the largest public facility of its kind in the country.  The new facility will allow MBL to continue to fill its own products as well as offer this limited resource for both private and public needs. 

The existence of the labs has helped to position Massachusetts as a leader in immunization, has afforded the state greater access to needed vaccines, and has saved the state millions by relying less on commercially produced vaccines.