[Exclusive] Moderna Vaccine to Be Contract Manufactured by GC Green Cross

Easy for Domestic Supply and Distribution... Expected to Serve as a Global Production Base

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Kwangho Lee and Sojeong Seo] GC Green Cross will undertake contract manufacturing of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine developed by the U.S. pharmaceutical company Moderna. With a domestic company handling COVID vaccine contract manufacturing (CMO), it is expected not only to serve as a global production hub for COVID vaccines but also to facilitate the domestic distribution and supply of the vaccine in the future.

On the 31st, a senior government official stated, "We understand that Moderna has selected GC Green Cross as its partner for COVID vaccine contract manufacturing," adding, "This is an agreement between Moderna and GC Green Cross." The official explained, "The government's contract to secure 20 million doses of the vaccine with Moderna, targeted to be signed within the year, and the contract for vaccine contract manufacturing are separate. The 20 million dose contract is currently being handled by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, and it has not yet been confirmed whether it will be signed today."

On the 28th, President Moon Jae-in held a phone call with Moderna CEO St?phane Bancel, during which they agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cooperate on pandemic joint response and vaccine material development with the National Institute of Infectious Diseases. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation for Korean companies to undertake contract manufacturing.

CEO Bancel stated, "Even if a new virus emerges, cooperation with Korea could significantly shorten the time required to develop vaccines compared to the COVID vaccine development period," adding, "The Korean government places great importance on biopharmaceutical development, and with Korean companies possessing strong production capabilities for contract manufacturing, it will be possible to establish large-scale production capacity."

With GC Green Cross taking on contract manufacturing of Moderna's vaccine, domestic companies have risen as a global production hub for COVID vaccines. Previously, the domestic company SK Bioscience signed a contract for contract manufacturing with AstraZeneca in August and is currently supplying clinical trial prototypes. The company has also signed contract development and manufacturing agreements with another vaccine company, Novavax, and the Korean government is currently in discussions with Novavax regarding vaccine supply.

A pharmaceutical industry insider said, "GC Green Cross had been recognized as a strong candidate for contract manufacturing as it signed a contract with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to develop a COVID-19 vaccine in the future," adding, "Given its solid foundation in existing vaccine production and distribution capabilities, as well as its development of COVID plasma treatments, it appears that these three factors combined led to the contract with Moderna."