The research team from Chumakov Institute, who visited Korea last November, is conducting preparatory work for cell culture. / Photo by GW Biotech
[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] The arrival of an overseas research team for the technology transfer of 'KoviHill' has signaled a green light for the production of a Korean-style vaccine.
The Korea-Russia joint venture Pharma Biotech Global (PBTG), the lead company for KoviHill, announced on the 16th that researchers from the Chumakov Institute entered the country twice through Incheon Airport last November to proceed with the technology transfer.
According to PBTG, the technology transfer team visiting Korea included a deputy director-level official from the Chumakov Institute as well as numerous vaccine technology experts.
The team reportedly moved to the KoviHill vaccine production base in Andong, Gyeongbuk, where they completed a gap analysis comparing differences in experimental equipment between the two countries.
They also successfully conducted Vero cell culture experiments, which form the foundation for producing inactivated vaccines, together with domestic researchers.
The Vero cells used for the culture were extracted from the kidneys of African green monkeys and are used in vaccine development. These cells were supplied to Korea by the Chumakov side after being obtained from the World Health Organization (WHO).
The reason the arrival of the technology transfer team was revealed late despite significant domestic and international interest is due to international technology transfer security issues. Accordingly, the company had repeatedly maintained a fundamental stance of not confirming the arrival but acknowledged the entry after about a month.
A PBTG official stated, “It is true that the Chumakov technology transfer team entered the country about a month ago, and everything is proceeding smoothly under the joint efforts of researchers from both countries,” adding, “Other details are security matters and will be disclosed later through press conferences and other means.”
The company plans to create a global manual applicable worldwide simultaneously with the start of KoviHill vaccine production and to actively propose vaccine supply to health authorities of countries that have not yet submitted letters of intent for prior purchase.
As the technology transfer intensifies, attention is focusing not only on the KoviHill vaccine production method but also on global distribution and supply.
The Korean-style vaccine ‘KoviHill’ began last May with the signing of a four-party contract for the manufacturing consignment of the COVID-19 vaccine. The Korea-Russia joint venture PBTG leads the project, with raw material supply and global distribution handled by GW Biotech, a KOSDAQ-listed company. SNP Genetics is responsible for supplying equipment and production support, while the Andong Animal Cell Validation Support Center is in charge of contract manufacturing.
The Andong Animal Cell Validation Support Center is considered optimal as the KoviHill production base because it possesses a Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) facility capable of handling high-risk viruses such as COVID-19 and hosts the country’s top vaccine research personnel.
GW Biotech, responsible for global marketing and distribution, is a bio-specialized company listed on KOSDAQ, well known for supplying scientific equipment to most university laboratories in Korea. Particularly, it has strengthened its global marketing capabilities by distributing and supplying products from bio and science makers worldwide, drawing industry attention to GW Biotech’s activities.
Meanwhile, KoviHill is the name of the Korean COVID-19 vaccine produced domestically through next-generation inactivated vaccine technology transfer and is planned to be sold worldwide.
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