It has been confirmed that a contract to produce a new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) vaccine’Sputnik V’developed by Russia is under contract with Binex and Isu Abgis. Next week, officials who developed Sputnik V in Russia are planning to visit Korea in person for a CMO contract.
According to the CMO industry on the 9th, officials from Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine development plan will visit Korea next week to tour production facilities such as Binex’s Osong plant in Cheongju, Chungbuk and Isu Abjis. Korean companies are planning to sign a formal contract after making an interview to determine whether the Russian vaccine can be mass-produced. An industry insider said, “It will be a procedure to confirm whether the Sputnik V vaccine can be mass produced in a Korean bio-incubator (reactor).
Along with this, Binex signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Korea Chorus for vaccine production in Russia as early as 10th. Sputnik V has been consigned to production at the Chuncheon Plant of Korea Chorus since last year. However, the bioreactor owned by Koros Korea is not enough to produce a large amount of vaccines. This is why the Russian side sent a’love call’ to a domestic company that can become a CMO.
According to industry sources, KORUS Korea is currently producing a small amount of Sputnik V vaccine in the form of consignment development (CDMO), and plans to install additional bioreactor equipment. It is reported that several 1000L incubators will be deployed.
When Binex, a CMO company, takes over as CMO, the situation will be completely different. It can produce a not small amount of vaccine with 5000L scale. If the entire 5000L is used, it is expected to be able to produce tens of millions to 100 million doses.
Sputnik V is a’viral vector’ vaccine. The corona 19 antigen gene is injected into an adenovirus that is harmless to the human body to induce an immune response. SK Biosciences has produced this type of AstraZeneca vaccine from September last year and officially distributed it to Korea at the end of this month.
This product has the advantage that it can be distributed by refrigeration rather than freezing. Sputnik V can be stored refrigerated at 2-8 degrees when stored in powder form. There is enough demand. With the rapid rise of Russian vaccines, major European Union (EU) countries such as France and Germany have recently made a move to introduce them. Currently, at least 20 countries have approved the use of the Russian vaccine.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which supported the development of the Sputnik V vaccine, prefers to have a production base in Korea over India and China. This is because the technology has already been recognized by winning orders for AstraZeneca and NovaVax vaccine production in the US. An industry official said, “With the constant controversy over the reliability of Russian vaccines, it is better to have a CMO powerhouse like Korea even if it is a production base.” .
Reporter Kim Woo-seop [email protected]
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