[Report] First Domestic Production mRNA Vaccine Shipment... "From Bioindustry Wasteland to Hub"

Samba Production Moderna Vaccine Shipment
Only 5 Months After Contract... Rated as 'Unusually Fast'

John Lim "Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Production Line to Be Established by First Half of Next Year"

On the morning of the 28th, a truck carrying Moderna COVID-19 vaccines produced at Samsung Biologics in Songdo International City, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, is leaving the site. These vaccines are the initial batch consigned by Samsung Biologics and are being supplied domestically for the first time.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Songdo (Incheon) = Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] "We broke through fierce competition in the global market and succeeded in contracting with Moderna, delivering the vaccine in an unprecedentedly short period of five months. Korea, once a barren land for the bio industry, has grown into a hub." (John Rim, CEO of Samsung Biologics)

On the morning of the 28th, the first shipment ceremony of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, which Samsung Biologics contracted for contract manufacturing (CMO) and completed final product manufacturing (DP), was held at Samsung Biologics' factory in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon. The vaccine shipped this time is the first messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine produced domestically. The vehicle transporting the vaccine bore the phrase, "First shipment of domestically produced Moderna vaccine! Korea leads the global vaccine hub."

The expressions and words of those attending the shipment ceremony vividly conveyed their joy at successfully producing the mRNA vaccine in just five months. Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who gave a congratulatory speech, also mentioned the "Samsung speed," emphasizing, "Through the production of the Moderna vaccine, we have once again experienced Samsung's astonishing speed."

On May 22nd, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for vaccine contract manufacturing was signed between Moderna and Samsung Biologics. John Rim, CEO of Samsung Biologics, President Moon Jae-in, and St?phane Bancel, CEO of Moderna (from left).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

This shipment and production of Moderna vaccines by Samsung Biologics was achieved in just about five months since signing the CMO contract with Moderna in May. Since the unfamiliar mRNA vaccine process had to be prepared from scratch, many in the industry initially predicted that production would only be possible by the end of the year at the earliest. A Samsung Biologics official said, "From immediately after the contract, we focused all efforts on aiming for production by the end of the third quarter," adding, "We have only achieved the originally set goal."

Samsung Biologics formed a company-wide dedicated task force (TF) right after the contract to concentrate all capabilities. By June, the very next month, they completed hiring personnel and introducing production equipment, finishing preparations for production and successfully conducting trial production by the end of August. Since then, the factory has been operating 24 hours a day with four shifts, continuing into commercial production.

Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine [Image Source=AP Yonhap News]

This vaccine shipment is significant as it is the first domestic mRNA vaccine production and the second domestically produced vaccine supplied to the public. Especially, if the contract for the Janssen vaccine, currently under CMO discussion with GC Green Cross, is finalized, Korea will have domestic production capabilities for all vaccines used in domestic inoculations except Pfizer, positioning Korea as a true vaccine powerhouse.

CEO John Rim stated, "We plan to establish a raw material pharmaceutical production line by the first half of next year," and added, "We will invest in various therapeutics and vaccines with a sense of mission to overcome the pandemic early and help Korea grow into a global vaccine hub."

The vaccine shipped this time amounts to 2,435,000 doses, which is virtually the entire initial production volume by Samsung Biologics. About half, 1,121,000 doses, were shipped on the day, and the remaining 1,314,000 doses will be shipped on the 29th. The shipped vaccines will be transferred to GC Green Cross's Ochang plant, responsible for domestic distribution of the Moderna vaccine, and then used nationwide for vaccination.

Medical staff are collecting specimens at a temporary COVID-19 screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza on the 28th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, ahead of the transition to a "step-by-step recovery of daily life (With Corona)" quarantine system next month, the number of new domestic COVID-19 cases has risen back to the 2,000 range after 20 days. The quarantine authorities are on alert, anticipating various events and gatherings centered on foreigners during the upcoming "Halloween Day" this weekend.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight, 2,111 new domestic COVID-19 cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 358,412. Of these, 2,095 were domestic cases and 16 were imported. This is 159 more than the previous day, when cases surged by 686. The recent increase in cases is attributed to the slight relaxation of private gathering limits since the 18th, leading to more meetings, and a decrease in quarantine vigilance ahead of With Corona.

The outbreak continues to be centered in the metropolitan area. By region, Seoul reported 785 cases, Gyeonggi 707, and Incheon 136, totaling 1,628 cases (77.7%) in the metropolitan area. The number of locally transmitted cases in the metropolitan area remained in the 1,000s for two consecutive days. Outside the metropolitan area, cases were reported mainly in Daegu (106), Chungnam (82), Chungbuk (54), and Busan (51). The death toll increased by 11 from the previous day, totaling 2,808, with a fatality rate of 0.78%. The number of critically ill patients rose by 4 to 345.

Professor Jung Jae-hoon of Gachon University College of Medicine said, "The number of confirmed cases is not expected to decrease significantly," adding, "With the step-by-step recovery of daily life starting next month, the number of cases is expected to increase further."