Little more than two years ago, Moderna was an unknown company to many, despite the company’s founding in 2010. But due to the pandemic, the American vaccine developer has become a household name around the world, and one of the most desirable places to work. 

“It’s a privilege that although we are a startup, every Taiwanese person knows us,” says General Manager for Taiwan and Hong Kong Joyce Lee, who became the company’s first employee in Taiwan in September 2022. Moderna is known for fostering an entrepreneurial spirit among its more than 3,900 employees worldwide – many of whom were onboarded in batches at the company’s headquarters in Massachusetts.  

In Taiwan, Lee is currently looking for the right candidates to build her team. She says people who can work comfortably across a range of disciplines and don’t want to be confined by their job titles are a great fit for Moderna.  

“We are looking for people that are versatile, operational, and who are comfortable to follow through and ensure things get done,” Lee says. She expects to have a team of 10 by the end of the year and is currently hiring for a variety of roles, from digital marketing to sales and regulatory positions.  

The increase in headcount comes as the company undertakes clinical trials of its revolutionary mRNA vaccine technology. Taiwan was chosen as the only market in Asia to be included in the trials – a total of four – for the company’s flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines. Lee gives several reasons as to why the company chose Taiwan to be included in the trial programs.  

The first reason Lee gives is agility. Because flu is seasonal, clinical trials need to be carried out with enough time to produce vaccines ready for the winter, making turnaround and efficiency critical to the process. Approval from Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration, necessary to begin trials, comes quickly compared to other markets in the region.  

Secondly, Taiwan’s reputation for trustworthiness and the accuracy of clinical data produced here are important for multinational pharmaceutical companies operating on the island.  

Finally, Taiwan’s renowned healthcare ecosystem, its high-quality research centers and hospitals, state-funded health insurance, ability to innovate and adapt, as well as a population that trusts science and is willing to participate in trials, make it an attractive market for innovative investments.  

“We were able to get 130 patients enrolled in our trial within one or two months, which drew praise from my colleagues around the globe,” Lee notes. In total, 6,000 people are taking part in Moderna’s trials worldwide.  

Moderna cut its teeth in the development of its Covid vaccine, the reason the company is now a household name and a leader in the development of revolutionary vaccine technology. Though barely more than a decade old, it excelled in managing the challenge of manufacturing and delivering vaccines around the world without the supply chain and logistics infrastructure of more established pharmaceutical companies.  

Building on its experience with the pandemic, Moderna is applying its mRNA technology to other respiratory diseases, as well as cancer. The company reported in January the outcomes of trials for its experimental RSV vaccine, revealing an efficacy of 83.7% in preventing cough and fever in adults aged 60 and older. Subsequently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration designated the vaccine for expedited approval. The company’s cancer vaccine was also awarded breakthrough therapy designation in February, following success in treating melanoma patients.  

Looking ahead, Lee says that Moderna is open to working with the government and other stakeholders to help prepare for the next pandemic and to keep its vaccines updated should another Covid variant arise.  

“We really want to work on public-private partnerships to make sure Taiwan has the capabilities to prepare for a new pandemic,” Lee says. “So, when that time comes, are we prepared?”