Samsung Biologics rolls out Moderna vaccine ahead of schedule under Lee order

Lee Seung-hoon and Cho Jeehyun 2021. 10. 28. 15:00
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Moderna's Covid-19 vaccines have been readied by South Korean drugmaker Samsung Biologics Co. in sufficient supply enough to be shared at home two months ahead of shipping schedule largely under the order of Samsung Group chief J.Y. Lee.

A total of 2.4 million doses of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine shots are set aside for Koreans. The messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-based vaccine is filled into vials, labeled and packaged at Samsung Biologics’s local plant. The vaccine was approved for use in the country this week.

The distribution comes nearly two months ahead of original schedule, reportedly through urging by Samsung Group commander who had been released from jail in August on a parole, according to insiders.

[Photo by Yonhap]
Samsung Biologics inked a fill and finish contract with U.S. drugmaker Moderna in May. The contract involves filling vials with vaccine and packaging the medicine for distribution, but not making the vaccine itself.

The company producing mRNA-based vaccine for the first time had to overcome various challenges such as raising yield rate for mass production and inspecting, the insiders said.

Samsung Group tackled the challenge by combining computer chip production know-how of Samsung Electronics and biotechnology skills of Samsung Biologics and Samsung Bioepis. The chip maker’s expertise in inspection and production reportedly helped improving the yield rate in a great deal.

Lee kept close contact with Moderna’s top management team for stronger collaboration.

Samsung Biologics has announced it will expand production facilities for mRNA-based vaccines. Moderna also plans to replace its existing vaccines with next-generation mRNA-based vaccines.

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