Qurocom Launches Universal Vaccine Development Platform 'SUV-MAP'

Qurocom announced on the 27th that its subsidiary Sumagen has launched a universal vaccine development platform called ‘SUV-MAP (Sumagen rVSV Multifunctional All Platform)’. Sumagen's SUV-MAP is a vaccine development platform utilizing VSV (Vesicular Stomatitis Virus) vector technology. By using SUV-MAP, in the event of a pandemic caused by viruses such as COVID-19, new vaccine development can be initiated within 5 months.

Sumagen independently developed the vaccine platform technology in the form of recombinant VSV using two types of VSV. VSV vector technology uses the Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) as a vector to deliver the target virus antigen to the human body, inducing an immune response. Because the Vesicular Stomatitis Virus has an envelope, it can express antigen proteins on the envelope to maximize immune effects. It also has the advantage of being able to carry large genes and having high biocompatibility.

Verification of the VSV vector technology was completed through U.S. patent registration. The most important evaluation factor for applying this as a vaccine base technology is the reduction of toxicity. Sumagen modified the heat sensitivity by manipulating specific genes to eliminate the existing toxicity of VSV. Therefore, if a pandemic caused by a virus occurs again in the future, the safety-related procedures have been completed, allowing immediate application to vaccine development.

Sumagen internalized gene synthesis capabilities to drastically shorten the vaccine development process. In pandemic situations, gene synthesis often gets delayed when conducted through other companies. Sumagen synthesizes genes independently in its laboratory and can complete this within one month after a pandemic outbreak. After recombining VSV, producing it, conducting immune response tests, and testing the MVB (Master Virus Bank), vaccine candidate production used in clinical trials can begin within a total of 5 months.

A Qurocom official stated, “The biggest advantage of the newly launched SUV-MAP is that it enables rapid vaccine development by applying Sumagen’s vaccine development-related technologies and capabilities,” adding, “The VSV technology applied in SUV-MAP has completed safety verification in animal experiments, and because it maximizes immune response upon human administration, it is suitable for vaccine development.”

He continued, “Sumagen has already developed various vaccines using VSV vector technology,” and added, “VSV technology is not limited to specific viruses and can continue to be applied in the event of new pandemics, making it highly versatile.”