Australian vaccine company Vaxine would join Cleveland Clinic in ex-VGTI building

PORT ST. LUCIE — The research arm of the Cleveland Clinic wants to partner with an Australian biotechnology company to establish a vaccine research center at the former Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute of Florida facility. 

Vaxine — a firm focused on vaccine creation — would occupy 40,000 square feet of the 107,000-square-foot building, now called the Florida Center for Bio-Sciences, in the Tradition Center for Commerce Park.

The Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County, on behalf of Vaxine, has applied for a $250,000 grant from the state Department of Economic Opportunity, said Pete Tesch, president of the economic-development council.

The city will negotiate an agreement with the Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute for use of the former VGTI facility, Tesch said. No city money has been pledged for this project, Tesch said.

The City Council Monday took no vote and asked no questions about the proposed economic-incentive package for the project. A presentation is scheduled at Tuesday’s 9 a.m. County Commission meeting.