[단독]”The greatest achievement since the Soviet Union” Russia vaccine, the Green Cross also makes

It has been confirmed that Russia is promoting a plan to additionally consignment production (CMO) in South Korea of ​​the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) vaccine’Sputnik V’developed by Russia. Among domestic pharmaceutical companies, they are discussing supply plans with GC Green Cross (Green Cross).

According to the pharmaceutical industry on the 7th, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which supported the development of Sputnik V, is looking for a company to produce additional vaccines in Korea. It is because countries around the world are expressing their intention to introduce Sputnik V.

Sputnik V has been CMO at Korea Chorus Chuncheon Plant since last year. The production scale is 150 million doses per year, all of which is supplied to the Middle East. Russia is expected to expand the emergency approval and introduction of Sputnik V in countries around the world, and last month tried to expand production with Koros Korea. However, when the company’s production capacity was insufficient, it was reported that it contacted the Green Cross. This is a method of CMO of the finished drug developed by Russia at a Korean production plant.

RDIF chose Green Cross as a partner last year because the company’s Ochang plant passed the verification by the Infectious Disease Prevention and Innovation Alliance (CEPI). CEPI signed a CMO contract with Green Cross in October last year. Green Cross’s Ochang Factory’s integrated complete pipe can produce up to 1 billion doses per year on the premise of operating eight hours a day. By increasing the uptime and adding equipment lines, it can produce more than 3 billion doses per year.

Green Cross said, “You cannot comment outside until the contract is signed.” However, on the 15th of last month, at a meeting with an analyst in the financial investment industry, Green Cross said, “We received CMO proposals from many Corona 19 vaccine developers, and are adjusting the production schedule at the Ochang factory.”

In August of last year, when President Vladimir Putin approved the use of the world’s first Corona 19 vaccine, the eyes of Sputnik V were not good. This is because the safety of the vaccine has not been proven.

This atmosphere changed on the 2nd (local time) when Lancet, a global medical journal, published the results of a clinical study of Sputnik V. As of 2019, Lancet’s citation index was 60.39, higher than Nature (42.78) and Science (41.85).

According to the latest issue of Lancet, the immunity effect was confirmed to be 91.6% as a result of the first and second vaccinations of Sputnik V to 11,868 people. The effect was also 91.8% in a clinical trial involving 2144 people over the age of 60. This is better than AstraZeneca (62-70%) and is similar to Pfizer (95%) and Modena (94.1%).

The price is also relatively inexpensive. RDIF announced that the international market price of Sputnik V will be set at less than $20 (about 23,000 won/two doses). It will sell for half the price of Modena ($50-74) and Pfizer ($40).

Another advantage is that it can be distributed at room temperature of 2~8℃. Currently, AstraZeneca and Janssen vaccines can be distributed at room temperature, but Pfizer and Moderny vaccines require cryogenic distribution (-71~-20℃).

Bloomberg News on the 6th (local time) rated Sputnik V as the’biggest scientific breakthrough’ since the Soviet era. Love calls are pouring out from around the world as leading academic journals and media acknowledge the efficacy of Sputnik V.

Mexico and Myanmar have approved the emergency use of Sputnik V, and Iran will begin vaccinating Sputnik V as early as 8-12 days. Dr. Redis, an Indian pharmaceutical company, has announced plans to apply for emergency use to the Indian government, and the Brazilian National Sanitation Bureau has eased related regulations.

The atmosphere in the western world is similar. French President Emmanuel Macron said on the 4th (local time), “We sent a delegation to investigate the vaccine for (Sputnik V) and conducted a scientific investigation and received positive reports.” German Chancellor Angela Merkel also said, “We talked with President Putin about Sputnik V.” “If it gets approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), all vaccines will be welcome in the EU.” In response, RDIF argued that “the EU may approve Sputnik V earlier next month.”

As such, as vaccine orders are expected to continue in various countries, Russia is seeking additional production in Belarus, Turkey, and Algeria, including the Green Cross Ochang plant. RDIF said, “We are also discussing production with China and Iran.”

The official position is that there are no plans to inoculate Sputnik V in Korea. Yang Dong-gyo, head of the Medical Safety Prevention Bureau of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said, “We are not discussing the contract for the introduction of Sputnik V.”

Reporter Moon Hee-cheol [email protected]