The goal shorten the development of mRNA vaccine to 100 days

Choi Chang-won, vice chairman of SK Discovery, said, "Speeding is important for the next pandemic"

R&D Center to be relocated to Songdo by 2024 and Andong Plant to double production

SK Bioscience, which developed Korea's No.

 

1 COVID-19 vaccine, aims to shorten the development period of the mRNA vaccine to 100 days and create innovative technology that can be supplied to the world within six months.

 

#1 Choi Chang-won, vice chairman of SK Discovery's CEO, gave a keynote speech at the "2022 Global Bio Conference" held at Grand InterContinental Parnas in Seoul on the 5th on the importance of global cooperation to respond to the next pandemic.

 

SK Discovery is a holding company of SK Bioscience.

 

SK Bioscience obtained the item license for the COVID-19 vaccine SKYCovione from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for the first time in Korea on June 29, and has been vaccinated in earnest since the 5th.

 

Vice Chairman Choi said, "SKYCovione is a remarkable and innovative achievement in that it has shortened the development of vaccines that take more than 10 years to two years while developing global products with high safety and effectiveness." "This is the result of global and domestic collaboration in all processes, including funding, R&D, clinical trials, production and licensing, and supply in the early stages of development," he analyzed.

 

The development of the nation's No.

 

1 COVID-19 vaccine is the result of cooperation and support from the Korean government and global partners.

 

Vice Chairman Choi added, "We will make efforts to secure the long-term and sustainability of SK Bioscience as well as global healthcare in Korea and developing countries with a sense of debt." Referring to the delay of one to two years from the SKYCovione development process to the WHO application, he said he would make efforts to develop vaccines within 100 days required by the CEPI and to provide global fairness within 6 months required by the Gates Foundation.

 

Vice Chairman Choi said, "Speed seems to be the most important thing to prepare for the Next Pandemic based on various experiences," adding, "We have shortened the vaccine development period from 10 years to 2 years, but innovative technologies are absolutely needed as we have to shorten it to 100 days." Although there seem to be many impossible tasks like when the COVID-19 vaccine was developed, Vice Chairman Choi believes that the development period can be shortened if it is prepared in advance.

 

SK bioscience explained that it is preparing to maintain active and close global partnerships, develop innovative technology platforms, strengthen research and production infrastructure, and strengthen clinical and licensing capabilities.

 

In particular, by 2024, Pangyo R&D Center will be relocated to Songdo to become a global R&PD (Research & Process Development) center, which is five times larger, and Andong Plant will be expanded to more than double the production of products that meet GMP standards.

 

Choi said, "The goal is to double the production of Andong plants by 2024 and triple by 2026.

 

"If global cooperation proceeds, flexible production facilities such as Andong plant are needed." He said, "We will produce and supply the necessary vaccines in each region, and we will convert them as soon as a pandemic occurs to make a pandemic vaccine." Vice Chairman Choi said, "For the 100-day vaccine development operation, preparation is needed at the clinical and approval stage." "At the government level, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety should prepare and train for the next pandemic by strengthening investment and cooperation in the bio R&D ecosystem and greatly increasing manpower," he said.