Janssen visits GC Pharma plant to spark a consignment speculation

GC Pharma may become the next South Korean drug manufacturer to turn out Covid-19 vaccine after officials of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen paid a visit to its facility.

According to sources from the bio and medical industry on Wednesday, Janssen officials recently studied CG Pharma’s vaccine manufacturing plant in Ochang, North Chungcheong Province, to possibly sign a contract manufacturing deal with the Korean company for local production of its Covid-19 vaccine.

GC Pharma has been rumored to have been approached by Janssen to manufacture the company’s Covid-19 vaccine in Korea. The Korean drug maker late last month in a filing that it “cannot confirm anything as nothing has been determined” and it would post update disclosure if any developments are made within a month.

Industry experts believe that it is very likely for the Korean company to license in Janssen’s Covid-19 vaccine, but it would take quite some time before the two sign a final deal.

South Korea has emerged as a major consignment producer for Covid-19 vaccines.

SK Bioscience has been producing vaccines of AstraZeneca and Novavax. Samsung Biologics will soon finish its test production of Moderna vaccines to begin actual production and supply.

Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), the Russian sovereign fund, struck a contract with Hankook Korus consortium and Huons Global consortium to consign production of Russia’s Sputnik vaccines.

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