Samsung Biologics to provide end-to-end mRNA vaccine manufacturing

31-May-2021 - Last updated on 31-May-2021 at 13:54 GMT

Pic:Samsung Biologics

Samsung Biologics will add mRNA vaccine drug substance production capability to its facility in South Korea, aiming to provide end-to-end mRNA vaccine manufacturing services.

Production capability for the mRNA drug substance is expected to be available by the first half of 2022 from Samsung Biologic's Songdo facility, at which point the company will be able to provide everything from bulk drug substance to aseptic fill/finish including labelling and packaging, as well as cold chain storage.

“mRNA has been the technology of choice for many COVID-19 vaccines due to its characteristics of safety and fast scalability in manufacturing,” said the CDMO as it announced the planned capabilities this morning.

Samsung Biologics is already involved in mRNA COVID-19 vaccine manufacture, having announced an agreement with Moderna last week for large-scale fill-finish manufacturing for the US company’s vaccine. A production line at its Incheon, South Korea facility will provide aseptic fill-finish, labelling and packaging services from the early second half of 2021.

Expansion plans

Samsung Biologics has set out its ambition to be a ‘full-service biopharmaceutical company’. Its biggest project for 2021 will be to accelerate construction of Plant 4: a multi-story 238,000 square meter construction boasting 256,000 liters total manufacturing capacity. A full opening is scheduled for 2023.

Upon completion of plant 4, Samsung Biologics will hold a total of 620,000 liters of cell culture capability.

In an effort to extend its global expansion, Samsung Biologics opened its newest US R&D Center in San Francisco in October 2020.