Hanmi Science Aims to Grow into Global Vaccine Hub Company
Hanmi Science, the holding company
of Hanmi Pharmaceutical Group, aims to become a regional vaccine hub company
based on its massive mRNA vaccine production capacity.
The World Health Organization (WHO)
is moving to establish a vaccine hub in each region of the world. Hanmi Science
sees the project as a golden opportunity to grow. If selected for the WHO
vaccine hub project, the company is expected to become a vaccine hub
pharmaceutical company with the capability to develop and produce mRNA
vaccines.
Hanmi Science is in the process of
participating in the WHO's global project to build regional hubs for vaccine
supply.
The project aims to build
mass-production bases for vaccines to facilitate worldwide distribution through
the WHO and the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX).
The project is not just a
declaration. The WHO recently announced that it will establish a coronavirus
vaccine hub in South Africa. In particular, South African pharmaceutical
companies Biovac and Afrizen Biotechnology will be in charge of development and
production to manufacture mRNA vaccines. Pharmaceutical companies that have
already developed and produced mRNA vaccines -- Pfizer and Moderna -- are also
moving to participate in the plan.
To be selected for the project, a
company needs to prove its ability to produce mRNA vaccines. Hanmi Science has
sufficient production capabilities.
Hanmi Fine Chemical, a Hanmi
Pharmaceutical Group affiliate producing raw materials for drugs, is capable of
supplying up to 300 million doses of mRNA vaccine a year. The group's ability
to produce mRNA vaccines using raw materials excels its raw material production
capacity. Hanmi Bio Plant in Pyeongtaek can produce 100 million doses of DNA
vaccines and one billion doses of mRNA vaccines annually.
“If raw
material supply and technology transfers from mRNA vaccine developers are
secured, Hanmi Science will be able to produce one billion doses of vaccines
without difficulties,” an industry insider said. One billion doses represent an
amount that can contribute to putting an end to vaccine drought not only in
Korea but in other countries.
If selected for the WHO project,
Hanmi Science will emerge as a vaccine hub pharmaceutical company. The
drugmaker established the Next-Generation mRNA Vaccine Platform Technology
Consortium with ST Farm and GC Green Pharma and is also developing its own
vaccine. Its goal is to secure mRNA vaccine technology by next year and produce
100 million doses of vaccines. The WHO project is a golden opportunity for
Hanmi Science to become a pharmaceutical company that has vaccine development
and supply capabilities.
출처: Business Korea