Hwasun-gun Selected for the 'National Immunotherapy Platform Public Contest Project'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Young-gyun] Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Gu Chung-gon) announced on the 1st that it has been finally selected for the National Immunotherapy Innovation Platform project hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT.

The National Immunotherapy Innovation Platform, led and operated by Jeonnam National University College of Medicine (Hwasun Jeonnam National University Hospital), will serve as a national control tower for immunotherapy, providing one-stop support throughout the entire cycle of immunotherapy development, from research and development of immunotherapeutics to preclinical and clinical trials and commercialization.

The National Immunotherapy Innovation Platform construction project will invest 46 billion KRW over five years from this year to 2024 (23 billion KRW each from national and local governments) and will be built by next year as a building with one basement floor and five above-ground floors on the grounds of Hwasun Jeonnam National University Hospital within the Hwasun Vaccine Industry Special Zone.

More than 70 immunotherapy experts and 17 leading domestic universities, companies, and general hospitals will also participate.

In addition, the project will be promoted through an open innovation approach by establishing an efficient cooperation system among industry, academia, research, hospitals, and government, involving top domestic immunotherapy specialized institutions and companies such as Jeonnam National University, GIST, POSTECH, Hwasun Jeonnam National University Hospital, Samsung Seoul Hospital, and Bacell Bio Co., Ltd.

The global market for cancer immunotherapy accounts for more than 50% of the global cancer treatment market and is expected to reach 165 trillion KRW by 2024.

The government plans to build the National Immunotherapy Innovation Platform to develop core immunotherapy technologies that can overcome intractable diseases such as cancer and dementia, domesticate expensive immuno-oncology drugs, and establish a base in the immunotherapy field to foster global companies.

The county expects this project to attract 30 immunotherapy-related companies, create over 1,100 jobs, and contribute to the domestication of anticancer immunotherapeutics and new drug development.

With the attraction of the National Immunotherapy Innovation Platform, a key institution in the biopharmaceutical industry belt creation project, the development of the industrial belt is also expected to accelerate.

During the 7th local government term, the county and Jeollanam-do have been promoting the biopharmaceutical industry belt creation project in Hwasun, Naju, and Jangheung, a pledge of President Moon Jae-in.

The county plans to gradually attract projects including the National Immunotherapy Innovation Platform construction, ▲ Anticancer Virus Vector Support Center construction (29 billion KRW), ▲ Vaccine Specialized Technical Workforce Training Project (20 billion KRW), ▲ Smart Clinical Support Center construction (12.5 billion KRW), ▲ Aging Immunity Health Certification Center construction (12 billion KRW), and ▲ Biohealth Convergence Knowledge Industry Center construction (18 billion KRW).

Governor Gu said, “With the successful attraction of this immunotherapy innovation platform construction project as a turning point, we will accelerate the biopharmaceutical industry belt and foster Hwasun as a leading city in the next-generation vaccine industry. We will establish the engine of future growth industries in Hwasun, attract promising companies, create jobs, and revitalize the local economy.”