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Samsung Biologics signed a contract manufacturing organization (CMO) deal with GreenLight Biosciences to produce COVID-19 vaccines for poor nations, particularly in Africa. The South Korean pharma company revealed its new partnership agreement with the Boston-based biotech firm on Thursday, Nov. 25.
Samsung Biologics and GreenLight Biosciences’ goal is to bring vaccines to everyone as they want to have a world that has the ability to produce sufficient messenger RNA vaccine doses for billions of people per year.
As per The Korea Herald, the agreement between the companies stated that the Korean pharma company would produce drug materials for GreenLight’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The two firms also agreed to scale up research and manufacturing efforts so they can be able to allocate more coronavirus vaccines for underdeveloped countries.
Samsung’s pharma unit added that it would be expanding its production plant in Songdo, Incheon, by building new facilities on the site. The constructions are expected to be completed by April next year.
“We are delighted to partner with GreenLight to leverage our expertise in manufacturing a messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccine candidate to better serve patients in lower income countries,” Samsung Biologics chief executive officer, John Rim, said in a press release. “This collaboration demonstrates a major milestone for Samsung Biologics as we will commence our expanded capabilities and operations to provide one-stop end-to-end messenger RNA production from Drug Substance (DS) to Aseptic Fill Finish (DP) to commercial release, all from a single site.”
Meanwhile, GreenLight Biosciences is also reported to be in the last stage of finalizing its partnership deal with a local partner in Africa. This is a separate agreement with Samsung Biologics, and after the contracts are sealed, the American biotech company is planning to start the phase 1 clinical trials for its vaccine candidate as early as the first quarter of 2022, as per Korea Joongang Daily.
Samsung Biologics and GreenLight Biosciences are producing COVID-19 vaccines using mRNA or messenger ribonucleic acid. This is the same type applied to Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
Finally, Andrey Zarur, GreenLight CEO, said they are happy to join forces with Samsung to make messenger RNA for their Covid vaccine trial as there is an urgent need to develop vaccines for the whole world.
