Samsung Biologics signs vaccine production deal with Moderna
Updated: 2021-05-24 05:58:50 KST
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| President Moon Jae-in took part in a South Korea-U.S. vaccine partnership event held in Washington, D.C on Saturday. |
The South Korean biopharmaceutical company Samsung Biologics signed a deal there to manufacture the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the U.S. drugmaker Moderna.
Making the vaccine in South Korea is expected to help the country secure a fast and steady supply.
The Blue House said that this will also help South Korea become a vaccine manufacturing hub, since it's already producing the vaccines from AstraZeneca, NOVAVAX, and Sputnik V.
"Now the U.S. and South Korea have secured production bases that can effectively respond to global vaccine demand. Furthermore, we are able to respond faster to the need for vaccines among our allies and among developing countries."
Also at the event, an MOU on vaccine development and production was signed by another Korean biotech company, SK Bioscience, with the South Korean health ministry and the vaccine maker Novavax.
This will allow them to cooperate on developing a next generation vaccine that can work both for COVID-19 variants and influenza.
They will also use SK Bioscience's facilities for production, and the government will provide active support.
The representatives of the companies that attended the event emphasized the importance of such partnerships.
"We will contribute to an early end of the pandemic not only in Korea but also around the world through rapid and stable production."
"Based on today's event, we hope to promote long-term cooperation to develop vaccines for COVID-19 variants and an influenza and COVID-19 combo vaccine for global public health with the South Korean government's active support."
President Moon asked his government to do its best to help these firms from both countries carry out their projects and to make South Korea the world's best vaccine production hub.
Hong Yoo, Arirang News.
Reporter : yoohong@arirang.com
Samsung Biologics, Moderna sign COVID-19 vaccine production dealUpdated: 2021-05-25 09:59:18 KST
South Korean biopharmaceutical company Samsung Biologics has signed a deal to help the production of COVID-19 vaccines developed by the U.S. drugmaker Moderna.
Under the fill-and-finish manufacturing process, Samsung Biologics will be responsible for filling vials and packaging Moderna's mRNA vaccine, starting in the third quarter of this year.
The vials will be supplied to markets other than the U.S.
Moderna's vaccine is to become the fourth COVID-19 vaccine to be at least partially produced in Korea.
The country already manufactures the AstraZeneca, Novavax and Sputnik V vaccines.
The government says the latest partnership between Seoul and Washington will help Korea become a global hub for vaccine manufacturing.
Authorities are also working to have some of the locally produced vaccines reserved for Korea.
"For the sake of distribution efficiency and ensuring a stable vaccine supply, we will negotiate with the supplier so that vaccines produced in the country can also be supplied domestically."
A trilateral MOU on vaccine development and production was also signed between SK Bioscience, the Health Ministry, and Novavax.
One analyst says the cooperation between Korean and American biotech companies would serve as a foundation for the development of the country's bio industry.
"The bioprocessing capacity of domestic companies is being recognized. The Samsung-Moderna deal also raises Korea's international status as Asia's manufacturing hub for COVID-19 vaccines. Korea can also learn technical skills of packaging mRNA vaccines, and its maintenance, and this can help the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry grow."
But another expert said a contract that involves a more important role would have been better.
"Samsung Biologics' role is limited, and there's no direct transfer of core technology. Its impact on vaccine development in Korea is expected to be minimal."
The expert added that the government should push forward to seal more technology-transfer deals to solidify the country as a global vaccine hub.
Kim Jae-hee, Arirang News.
Reporter : jhee@arirang.com
