Government to Fully Promote mRNA Vaccine Technology Cooperation with Moderna

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The government is set to actively pursue technological cooperation with the U.S. pharmaceutical company Moderna to develop domestic mRNA vaccines.

The National Institute of Infectious Diseases under the Korea National Institute of Health announced on the 23rd, "As a follow-up measure to the meeting between President Moon Jae-in and Moderna CEO St?phane Bancel on December 28 last year, a video conference with Moderna's CEO will be held at 10 p.m. on Monday, the 25th."

mRNA vaccines are created by mass replicating mRNA that produces the virus's spike protein. Moderna and Pfizer developed COVID-19 vaccines using this technology.

The National Institute of Infectious Diseases stated, "Through the video conference, we will discuss technological cooperation and joint research plans related to mRNA vaccines that can be rapidly developed, and also consider signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Moderna."

The quarantine authorities explained that discussions on technological cooperation with Moderna are being pursued to secure vaccine sovereignty. At the regular briefing that day, Kwon Jun-wook, the 2nd Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said, "Six companies are developing seven types of COVID-19 vaccines domestically, but research related to mRNA is very minimal. We will continue to cooperate with companies that have succeeded in developing mRNA vaccines and institutions such as the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to lay the foundation for domestic mRNA vaccine development."

Deputy Director Kwon added, "Following the video conference, we will prepare practical measures to produce mRNA vaccines domestically through detailed working-level consultations."

Earlier, on December 31 last year, the government signed a contract to purchase 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna. At that time, President Moon and Moderna CEO St?phane Bancel also agreed to cooperate on the plan to manufacture Moderna vaccines domestically under contract.