JW Biotech Declares Final Stage of Russian Vaccine Technology Transfer

Russian technicians are checking the process inside the Andong Animal Cell Validation Support Center. / Photo by GW Biotech

GW Biotech announced on the 21st that the final virus for the vaccine transferred from Russian technology has completed quarantine and importation.

Prior to this, seven technicians from the Chumakov Research Institute first entered the country in November last year and 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, and completed the establishment of the Cell Bank. Subsequently, from May, about ten additional Russian technicians visited Korea in two phases to finalize QC on the intermediate raw material during manufacturing. Since June, the final technology transfer for QC occurring throughout the entire process?from culture to packaging?has been completed, and the remaining processes are planned to be completed sequentially.

GW Biotech is currently storing over 300 Vero tubes in ultra-low temperature freezers, securing the capability to rapidly produce vaccines in preparation for various COVID-19 variants as well as COVID-19 itself.

Vero cells are kidney cells from the green monkey (an endangered species), which were obtained from the WHO and serially cultured by the Chumakov Life Science Research Institute. Viruses cannot replicate on their own and require a host for replication. Vero cells serve as hosts for the COVID-19 virus and can be used as hosts for all viruses intended for inactivated vaccines (such as those for poliomyelitis, encephalitis, rabies, etc.) that are based on viruses.

Yang Jae-won, CEO of GW Biotech, stated, “Due to difficult domestic and international circumstances, there were many challenges, including the complicated procedures for importing the virus into the country. With the virus, which is in the final countdown stage of complete technology transfer, having cleared final customs, we are relieved and confident that technology transfer and production processes can be carried out independently.”

Meanwhile, the remaining processes to produce vaccines using the finally cleared virus include filtration, purification, packaging, and inspection. To this end, Russian technicians will collaborate with the technical staff of the Andong Animal Cell Demonstration Support Center to successfully carry out the remaining steps necessary for final production and achieve the results of vaccine technology transfer.