POSCO Inter partners with bio company to promote export of 'African Swine Fever vaccine' to Canada

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] POSCO International, seeking sustainable future food sources, is pushing to export African swine fever vaccines to Canada.

On the 11th, POSCO International announced that it signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MOU) with BioApp, a bio-venture developing plant protein-based vaccines, and Canada’s PlantForm for the export, contract manufacturing, and joint research and development (R&D) of African swine fever (CSF) vaccines. The signing ceremony was held via a non-face-to-face video conference, attended by Seong-hyung Heo, Head of POSCO International’s Eco-friendly Materials Business Division, Eun-joo Son, CEO of BioApp, and Don Stewart, CEO of PlantForm.

BioApp, a bio-venture developing and producing vaccines for human and animal diseases including African swine fever vaccines, is gaining attention for utilizing plant cell-based “green vaccine” technology, unlike existing companies. Green vaccines are safe vaccines that pose no risk of spreading pathogens or creating new mutant viruses. PlantForm, based in Canada, is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the production of special antibodies and proteins.

Through this MOU, POSCO International will handle the overseas export of CSF vaccines produced by BioApp and lead discussions on contract manufacturing and joint R&D. BioApp will conduct R&D and clinical trials for early commercialization of the product, while PlantForm will be responsible for local approval and distribution of BioApp’s CSF vaccine in Canada, North America, and South America. These companies expect to start vaccine exports as early as next year. Eun-joo Son, CEO of BioApp, said, “We hope that through cooperation with POSCO International and PlantForm, we can significantly contribute to human happiness by eradicating disaster-type animal infectious diseases.”