Samsung Biologics obtains approval for Moderna vaccine production

Samsung Biologics has obtained an official approval for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines manufactured in South Korea. As the company can sell the vaccines domestically, as well as internationally, it is ready to become a global vaccine hub.

Samsung Biologics announced on Tuesday that it had been approved for the manufacturing and sales of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. This is the first time that mRNA vaccines have been approved for production in South Korea.

Samsung Biologics also recently signed a consignment production contract for the drug substance of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines with U.S.-based GreenLight Biosciences. The South Korean company will be able to operate the entire production process of COVID-19 vaccines from drug substances to finished goods manufacturing.

The company is also continuing aggressive investment to expand its contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for biologics. It is building plant No. 4 with a production capacity of 250,000 liters in Songdo, Incheon and planning to build plants No. 4 and No. 6. Once plant No. 4 is completed, the company will have the largest biologics production capacity in the global CDMO sector with a total capacity of 620,000 liters.

Samsung Biologics’s outstanding performance in biologics is based on the strong determination of Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong to create success like that of semiconductors in the bio sector. Since Lee was released on parole in August, he prioritized the production of Moderna vaccines as he resumed management. He attended a video conference with the top management team of Moderna in August and met with Moderna’s chairman of the board of directors Noubar Afeyan during his business trip to the U.S. last month to share collaboration and cooperation plans for COVID-19 vaccines.


Seong-Mo Kim mo@donga.com