Olix "MCurex Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Samyang Holdings for mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Development"

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] Olix's subsidiary MCurex announced on the 22nd that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Samyang Holdings on the 21st to promise technical mutual cooperation for the rapid development of a COVID-19 vaccine.

According to this MOU, both companies will collaborate to develop messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) that induces immune responses against COVID-19 and drug delivery systems that stably deliver it to cells.

mRNA is genetic material that transmits information to produce specific proteins within the human body. Recently, COVID-19 vaccines using mRNA have been released, attracting global attention. When vaccinated with an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, our body recognizes the virus as if the COVID-19 virus has entered, triggering an immune response and acquiring immunity against the actual COVID-19 virus. However, since mRNA can be easily damaged by enzymes in the body, a ‘drug delivery system’ that safely protects and delivers it to cells is essential.

The Samyang Holdings Biopharm Group has focused its capabilities for over 20 years on drug delivery system (DDS) research based on biodegradable polymer technology and proprietary patented technology. DDS is a technology that safely and effectively delivers drugs within the human body. Recently, it has been focusing on developing innovative drug delivery systems that stably deliver bio-pharmaceuticals such as nucleic acids like siRNA, mRNA, pDNA, and anticancer viruses into the human body.

MCurex is a subsidiary established by Olix, a gene therapy new drug development company based on RNA interference platform technology, for mRNA vaccine and therapeutic development. Currently, MCurex has recruited global mRNA experts who participated in the development of the core technology applied to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, mRNA 5’-Capping, as research directors and scientific advisory committee members, dedicating efforts to mRNA vaccine and therapeutic development.

Hong Sunwoo, CEO of MCurex, stated, “Through technical cooperation with Samyang Holdings Biopharm Group, we will start vaccine development without delay and do our utmost to secure a domestically produced mRNA vaccine as soon as possible.”

Um Taewoong, CEO of Samyang Holdings, said, “Through this technical cooperation, we will contribute to overcoming the national crisis caused by COVID-19 and continuously commercialize innovative therapeutics using Samyang Holdings Biopharm Group’s proprietary drug delivery technology to improve patients’ quality of life.”