[Report] "This is the birthplace of Korea's first domestic COVID-19 vaccine"... Pangyo SK Bioscience

'Seukaikobiwon' Research Site

Animal Cell + E. coli Protein Synthesis Vaccine
Enhancing Effectiveness Through New 'Nanoparticle' Technology

Relocation to Songdo P&RD Center in 2024
"Aiming to Become a Global Vaccine Ecosystem Hub"

Researchers are conducting studies at the SK Bioscience Research Center in Pangyo, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province, where Korea's first domestic COVID-19 vaccine, 'Skycovione,' was developed. (Photo by Ministry of Health and Welfare)

[Asia Economy (Pangyo) = Reporter Lee Chun-hee] On the afternoon of the 13th, I visited the SK Bioscience EcoHub research lab in Pangyo, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do. This is the site where Korea's first domestically produced COVID-19 vaccine, 'SKYCovione,' was developed. To prevent any possible external contamination, I changed into a lab coat and wore shoe covers before entering the research facility, where the busy movements of researchers working on vaccine development were in full swing.

The most noticeable item in the cell culture room I visited first was a 5-liter small bioreactor. Large bioreactors typically seen in pharmaceutical production facilities are made of stainless steel, making it difficult to see inside. However, the transparent research bioreactor here allowed a vivid view of the internal processes. Hong Yoon-gi, manager of the SK Bioscience analysis team, explained, "Before culturing, the culture medium is a brown transparent liquid, but when cells are mixed in for culturing, the color changes. The cells act like a mini factory, continuously producing antigens as they grow."

Cell culture is the very first step in vaccine production. Manager Hong said, "We use Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to find the optimal conditions for the antigen protein 'Component A' to grow best. Since growing the cells is crucial, even if we can't eat, we have to feed the cells, which is a challenge but not really a hardship."

A bioreactor containing clear culture medium before cultivation (left photo) and a bioreactor that has become cloudy as cultivation begins (right photo). / Photo by Lee Chunhee

Next, in the fermentation room, another antigen protein called 'Component B' is produced. This process uses Escherichia coli bacteria instead of regular cells. Before SKYCovione, the typhoid vaccine 'SkyTyphoid' and the rotavirus vaccine under development were also produced using E. coli.

Component B is the core of the latest 'nanoparticle' technology applied in SKYCovione. Developed by the Antigen Design Institute (IPD) at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, this technology enables 'self-assembly,' where proteins autonomously assemble into various structures, enhancing the activity of cells that produce antibodies. SK Bioscience President Ahn Jae-yong emphasized that this vaccine is "the world's first vaccine to apply computationally designed antigens," highlighting the collaboration with various global institutions in its development.

The third stage, the purification room, involves removing all impurities except the necessary components for vaccine production. Finally, in the analysis room, the purity and quality of the remaining components are verified. Since the vaccine is administered to healthy individuals, both efficacy and safety are critical evaluation factors.

A researcher at the SK Bioscience Research Center in Pangyo, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, where Korea's first domestic COVID-19 vaccine 'Skycovione' was developed, is holding a vial containing 10 doses of Skycovione. (Photo by Ministry of Health and Welfare)

The analysis room also displayed a vial of SKYCovione containing 10 doses. SKYCovione was developed as a 'multi-dose vial' format, administering 0.5 ml mixed with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)'s adjuvant 'AS03.' AS03 is supplied separately in its own vial. Development of a 'prefilled syringe' format to improve dosing convenience is also under consideration. This is a single-dose syringe containing one dose per vaccine. Similarly, SK Bioscience applied this approach when contract-developing and manufacturing (CDMO) the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine 'Nuvaxovid,' which is distributed in 10-dose vials overseas.

The Pangyo research center, which became the birthplace of Korea's first domestic COVID-19 vaccine, will fulfill its mission by the year after next. SK Bioscience has announced plans to build a 30,000 square meter R&PD (Research & Process Development) center in Songdo, Incheon. Currently, the basic design is underway, and once the R&PD center is completed in 2024, SK Bioscience will conclude its Pangyo era and relocate its base to Songdo.

SK Bioscience envisions the Songdo R&PD center as a 'global vaccine ecosystem hub.' President Ahn said, "This is not just an expansion of a research institute but will become a global R&D ecosystem. We will invite small and medium biotech companies, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), and others to make it a hub capable of producing any vaccine in the best way."

Pangyo = Reporter Lee Chun-hee spring@asiae.co.kr