Solus Advanced Materials Enters mRNA Vaccine Raw Material Market

The Nation's First Development of Structural Phospholipids, a Core Ingredient for Delivery Systems Begins

Solus Advanced Materials Bio Division researchers are reviewing the experimental results. [Photo by Solus Advanced Materials]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Solus Advanced Materials (formerly Doosan Solus) is entering the mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccine raw material market by leveraging its bio-material technology.

Solus Advanced Materials announced on the 29th that it has begun developing 'structural phospholipids,' one of the core raw materials for mRNA vaccine delivery systems, for the first time in Korea.

Structural phospholipids play an essential role in maintaining the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines by constituting lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), which act as drug delivery vehicles. Solus Advanced Materials plans to develop and commercialize a domestically produced vaccine delivery system with improved safety and efficacy by combining the developed structural phospholipids with the technology of Sunbio, a biosimilar (biopharmaceutical generic) specialist company. Sunbio currently supplies vaccine delivery raw materials to Pfizer.

Solus Advanced Materials explained that this new bio-material, jointly developed by the two companies, has a high potential for future use not only in mRNA vaccines but also as a next-generation anticancer drug delivery system for cancer patients.

Choi Yong-jin, head of the bio business division at Solus Advanced Materials, said, "We will diversify our bio business portfolio through open innovation."

Meanwhile, Solus Advanced Materials plans to officially launch a newly established corporation dedicated to the bio business, 'Solus Biotech,' on the 1st of next month.