It was suggested that global cooperation is the most important thing to respond to the next pandemic.
In a keynote speech at the 2022 Global Bioconference hosted by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, SK Bioscience's holding company, SK Discovery Choi Chang-won, who is leading the birth of Korea's first new coronavirus vaccine, emphasized the importance of global cooperation.
In 2020, as the COVID-19 situation turned into a pandemic, SK Bioscience decided to develop COVID-19 vaccine, and at the same time, it will supply COVID-19 vaccine to the global society and the Republic of Korea through consignment production such as CMO and CDMO using the company's production capabilities and technology.
At that time, it was not easy for SK Bioscience to suddenly participate in the development of a vaccine against the new coronavirus infection. Development and clinical costs are high, and the chances of success are uncertain. Above all, most of the projects under development at the time had to be prepared and more than 90% invested in R&D personnel.
However, Choi explained that vaccine development was possible amid the pandemic situation of the new coronavirus infection, which is a national crisis, because he was confident that he would have experience and technology even if he thought the vaccine was his company's mission.
Choi said, "It is a remarkable achievement and amazing innovation that we have reduced vaccine development, which usually takes more than 10 years, to two years, and at the same time developed global products with high safety and effectiveness. SK Bioscience also made a lot of efforts, but I think it would have been impossible without the help of global and domestic partnerships."
"I dare say that Sky Covey One is the fruit of the global cooperation project created under the name of SK Bioscience. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to everyone who worked together for the success of our project."
First of all, regarding the status of foreign aid, Choi said, "The Gates Foundation provided global access programs, CEPI provided funding, University of Washington IPD lab provided antigen design verification, GSK provided immunostrengthening agents, AstraZeneca provided comparative clinical controls, and IVI conducted global clinical trials. Whenever I encountered technical difficulties, I was able to get support through Gates' network."
In addition, the Ministry of Health and Welfare established a pan-government support committee for the development of new coronavirus infectious disease treatments and vaccines. "The National Assembly has enacted laws necessary to deal with the pandemic, the National Institute of Health has decided to conduct serum analysis, and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has decided to purchase Sky Coby One in advance."
In addition, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety actively cooperated with the WHO to establish standards for comparative clinical law. Rapid clinical practice and permission were also provided through the Productization Strategy Support Team. Many people in Korea applied for clinical participation and participated in the clinical participation."
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs actively solved the problem when global cooperation was needed. North Gyeongsang Province and Andong City also actively cooperated throughout the process. All the institutions have been on duty on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Fridays."
"Thanks to such cooperation, the development time has been reduced to two years, and a global vaccine with both safety and effectiveness has been created. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Choi said, "There were many IFs that were difficult to achieve when the strategy was first established, but surprisingly, all the tasks led to AND. It's like a miracle. If one of the various tasks had been ORed, I would still have performed the third phase of clinical practice."
"Sky Kobe One was created with the cooperation and support of Korea and its global partners. We will contribute to global public health including the Republic of Korea and developing countries with a debt-ridden mind, and will also make every effort to secure the long-term sustainability of SK Bioscience. "We will achieve both social and economic values through differentiated and feasible business models."
Based on this experience, Choi said that the next pandemic response has many implications, but one of the most important things is speed.
Although CEPI aims to develop vaccines within 100 days, Gates Foundation aims to provide a fair vaccine within 6 months, and SK Bioscience aims to provide a Wave One vaccine, Choi believes that the time period should be shortened to 100 days.
Choi said, "It is impossible to achieve with traditional methods and technology. Innovative technology is absolutely necessary," he said. "There are many challenges that seem impossible like when we first started developing a vaccine for COVID-19, but I don't think this goal is impossible if we can prepare in advance. "We believe that the global initiative has already materialized this discussion and is ready to be implemented."
"Vaccines will be supplied within 100 days and vaccines will be supplied to the world within 6 months, which means that the entire process must be innovated," he said. "The core is that most of the preparations must be completed before the pandemic."
On the other hand, SK Bioscience is preparing △ to strengthen active and close global partnerships, △ to secure innovative technology platforms, △ to strengthen research and production infrastructure, △ to strengthen clinical and licensing capabilities.
Regarding the first strengthening of global cooperation, Choi said, "Based on the partnership experienced through the pandemic, we will actively promote closer partnerships with global organizations such as the Gates Foundation, CEPI, and WHO. In addition, we will play a role in expanding the vaccine bioecosystem through cooperation with domestic and foreign research institutions, hospitals, and bio-vaccine companies for necessary innovation technology platforms and process innovation."
Choi said, "We will strengthen DS Technology, DP Technology and Manufacturing Platform aspects to secure innovative technology platforms."
According to Choi, DS Technology will strengthen additional cooperation with existing partners for the next innovation, while creating a platform through global research cooperation technology and M&A, and DP Technology will challenge innovation using microneedle technology. We will also build a Micro Facility System for production innovation aimed at rapid global supply.
Choi also said, "The Korea Food and Drug Administration and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are at a global level, but we hope that such cooperation will be strengthened, and detailed plans and preparations will be made to prepare for the next pandemic.
Choi, who thanked many domestic and foreign stakeholders for the birth of the vaccine, said, "The four tasks we are preparing are really difficult, but I don't think they are impossible. It will be realized through best efforts and ecosystem cooperation."
"Preparations for the pandemic must be made at normal times. In addition to the four preparations, the company will strengthen its R&D, production capacity and capabilities, expand its vaccine portfolio and market, and strengthen its business model and capabilities through the CDMA business. In the pandemic situation, we will play a role under the emergency system under the direction of the Korean government and the global initiative."
SkyCoby One began development in May 2020 and received permission from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in June 2022. Starting this week, vaccinations will be available in Korea, and European permits such as the United Kingdom are also in progress.
Writer: Chelsie Song
(Picture from Unsplash)
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