Samsung Biologics to Produce mRNA Vaccine Ingredients in Songdo Facility

After scoring the vaccine deal with Moderna, Samsung Biologics said it will add an mRNA vaccine drug substance (DS) production line to the facility in Songdo, which is expected to launch in full gear in early 2022.

Build Up Capacity for Global mRNA Vaccine Distribution

The upgrade will transform Samsung Biologics’ services from bulk DS to aseptic fill/finish including labeling, packaging, and cold chain storage as an end-to-end mRNA vaccine supplier.

By then, Samsung Biologics would be able to supply mRNA vaccines for Pfizer/BioNTech (Approved), CureVac (Phase 2b/3), Sanofi/Translate Bio (Phase 1/2), or Daiichi Sankyo (Phase 1/2) at a faster pace as long as it is licensed.

Vaccine Deal with Moderna

Samsung Biologics signed a CDMO deal with Moderna to manufacture its COVID-19 vaccines, mRNA-1273, on May 23rd. The agreement involved fill/finish, labeling, and packaging services for hundreds of millions of mRNA-1273, and those vaccines will be supplied for markets outside of the US in the third quarter of 2021.

The deal came after Korea approved mRNA-1273 on May 21st, making the number of approved vaccines in Korea to four.

Super Plant in Incheon

Samsung Biologics has been continuously raising its game for years in sniffing out the vast opportunities in biologics and therapeutics production. In November 2020, the firm commenced the construction of the world’s largest biopharmaceutical production site with a space of 238,000-square-meter and a manufacturing capacity of 256,000 liters.

The site dubbed as “Super Plant” is the company’s fourth plant. It is expected to shoulder a third of the global bio-CMO manufacturing capacity after it’s done. It will also provide one-stop services, including aseptic fill/finish to testing services.

The plant is scheduled to kick into gear by the end of 2022 and enter full operations in 2023.

Related Article: Moderna Enters Manufacturing Agreement with Samsung Biologics after Vaccine Bags Conditional Nod in South Korea

Author

Tyler Chen

"Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died."- Erma Bombeck