SK Bioscience invests 320 billion KRW in Songdo to build a "Global Bio Hub"

Establishment of 'Global R&PD Center' on 9,200-pyeong Site in Songdo
Largest Investment Since Launch
CGT and mRNA Research Facilities Included

[Asia Economy Reporter Myunghwan Lee] SK Bioscience is embarking on the establishment of a bio hub through its largest facility investment since its inception.

On the 8th, SK Bioscience announced that it has resolved at the board meeting to establish the 'Songdo Global R&PD Center (Global Research & Process Development Center)' and has begun the procedures for its establishment.

On this day, SK Bioscience decided to invest a total of 325.7 billion KRW, including the previously approved investment of 41.9 billion KRW covering land costs, to establish the R&PD Center on a 30,413.8㎡ (9,200 pyeong) site in Songdo. Once the R&PD Center is completed in the first half of 2025, the headquarters and research institute currently located in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, will be relocated to Songdo.

Through the establishment of the R&PD Center, which covers the entire process from research to commercial production, SK Bioscience aims to advance its existing business areas and create a global vaccine ecosystem for proactive response to new infectious diseases.

For global vaccine collaboration, SK Bioscience will establish an Open Lab at the R&PD Center where global companies and institutions can cooperate. The Open Lab will be used as office and research space for bio institutions and companies worldwide that wish to pursue and strengthen partnerships with SK Bioscience.

SK Bioscience will also promote the advancement of research and production facilities to enhance its own R&D capabilities and strengthen its vaccine pipeline. First, it plans to build state-of-the-art research facilities, including an infectious disease BSL (Biosafety Level)-3 research facility. BSL is a classification standard for facilities capable of researching microorganisms with high biological risk, and BSL-3 level research facilities are necessary for developing vaccines to respond to new infectious diseases that are highly risky and cause serious illnesses.

Additionally, to secure global competitiveness in the contract manufacturing (CMO) and contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) markets, a 'Pilot Plant' will be established. A pilot plant refers to a small-scale experimental facility constructed before introducing new processes or products. The pilot plant at the R&PD Center will be designed as a production facility meeting current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) standards and will be actively utilized for new vaccine projects or CDMO business.

The pilot plant will also include facilities to conduct new research projects such as cell and gene therapy (CGT), messenger RNA (mRNA), and viral vectors, which are part of the new growth strategies. With the ability to produce samples for nonclinical, clinical, and some commercial production at the pilot plant, SK Bioscience plans to leverage synergies with the vaccine production facility 'Andong L House' located in Andong, Gyeongbuk, to strengthen the expansion of its new pipeline.

Ahn Jae-yong, President of SK Bioscience, stated, "The R&PD Center is a dream stage for advancing the bio and vaccine industries not only in Korea but worldwide. Through systematic platform expansion, we will do our best to protect the safe tomorrow of people around the world as a core of the global network, not only generating economic profits."