A SCOTTISH factory is expanding as part of a deal to secure 60 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine candidate developed by the French firm Valneva.
The drugs firm and UK Government are investing in the Livingston plant, with 75 new jobs expected to be created.
If clinical trials are successful, the site could provide up to 100 million doses of the vaccine across the UK and internationally.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma will visit the factory today to hear about plans to scale-up production.
Valneva's vaccine, called VLA2001, is one of four potential vaccines which the UK Government has secured rights for.
Speaking to Good Morning Scotland ahead of his visit, Sharma said the French company hoped to secure regulatory approval for its vaccine in the second half of next year.
Sharma said: "We're looking at a whole range of ways we can support and bring forward a successful vaccine, in addition to that we're also investing in manufacturing in the UK and supporting the international effort."
Valneva said the final supply agreement would be concluded in the coming weeks.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here