GC Green Cross Signs Joint Production Agreement for Cholera Vaccine with UbioLogics

Oral Cholera Vaccine 'Ubicol' Production Collaboration

GC Green Cross announced on the 25th that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the 24th at its headquarters in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, with UbioLogics for the joint production of the oral cholera vaccine 'Ubicol.'

According to the agreement, UbioLogics, the developer and supplier of Ubicol, will be responsible for the bulk production process. GC Green Cross will undertake the contract manufacturing of the finished product process (vial filling and packaging, etc.) and cooperate mutually to ensure smooth supply of the product.

The two companies plan to start producing vaccines for UNICEF supply in the first half of 2024. This is in response to UNICEF's recent request to expand supply due to the spread of cholera in regions such as Africa, and it is an additional quantity to the normal supply volume of the existing plastic tube-type 'Ubicol-Plus.'

Ubicol is an oral vaccine jointly developed by UbioLogics and the International Vaccine Institute to prevent cholera, which mainly occurs in developing countries. After receiving the World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification (PQ) approval in 2015, UNICEF began supplying it in 2016, and the cumulative supply exceeded 100 million doses last year. UbioLogics currently supplies 100% of UNICEF's cholera vaccine volume.

Min Kyung-ho, Vice President of UbioLogics, said, "Due to global warming caused by climate change, droughts and floods have become frequent, leading to a rapid increase in cholera worldwide, and the current vaccine supply cannot keep up with demand. We expect this partnership to greatly help increase supply volume, contributing not only to sales growth but also to the prevention of cholera spread."

Lee Woo-jin, Head of Global Business at GC Green Cross, stated, "Based on the differentiated capabilities of both companies, we will do our best to increase the supply of cholera vaccines. We also plan to continue various collaborations that can contribute to improving global public health in the future."