Launch of the Government-Private Joint Task Force for COVID-19 Therapeutics and Vaccine Development

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The government-formed public-private joint "Pan-Government Task Force" to respond to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) will hold its first meeting on the 17th to review the status of domestic and international research and development of treatments and vaccines, as well as the supply situation of quarantine supplies and equipment.

The task force, co-led by the Director of the National Institute of Health at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Director of the Research and Development Policy Office at the Ministry of Science and ICT, will hold a meeting this morning at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, jointly chaired by the two directors. They will also discuss the role of the task force in promptly resolving field difficulties and the support measures from related ministries.

The task force plans to prepare a "Pan-Government Roadmap for COVID-19 Treatment and Vaccine Development," which includes expanding government R&D investment in promising domestic COVID-19 treatment and vaccine items, providing full-cycle research and development support, and improving regulations related to approval and commercialization, and submit it to the Pan-Government Support Group. To this end, detailed agendas will be identified through weekly discussions within the three subcommittees under the task force (treatments, vaccines, quarantine supplies and equipment), and related matters will be coordinated in the general subcommittee.

Additionally, in connection with the "Corporate Difficulty Resolution Support Center (Korea Health Industry Development Institute)" to be established under the Pan-Government Support Group, professional consulting will be provided to resolve difficulties faced by domestic treatment and vaccine development companies. Through the "R&D Support Council," composed of government-funded research institutes and universities, mutual cooperation will also be pursued to seek solutions to scientific and technological difficulties.

The task force stated, "To completely overcome COVID-19, early development of treatments and vaccines and the timely distribution of quarantine supplies and equipment are essential," adding, "We will actively support the Pan-Government Support Group to identify practical improvement measures and solutions focused on key issues and ensure their implementation."

Meanwhile, on the 9th, the government formed the public-private joint Pan-Government Support Group to intensively support COVID-19 treatment and vaccine development and quickly achieve results, following a joint meeting of industry, academia, research, and medical sectors chaired by the President. To support this, the Pan-Government Task Force was established to analyze the entire cycle of research and development, production, national stockpiling, and field utilization of treatments, vaccines, and quarantine supplies and equipment, identify field difficulties, and prepare support measures.