Samsung Biologics said on the 3rd that it is partnering with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to strengthen global vaccine manufacturing capacity to respond to next-generation infectious diseases and pandemic threats. Through this collaboration, Samsung Biologics will join CEPI's "Vaccine Manufacturing Facilities Network (VMFN)" and work to establish a system to rapidly produce and supply protein-based vaccines, focusing on low- and middle-income countries when new infectious diseases emerge.
The two sides plan to invest up to $20 million in initial funding to jointly establish rapid and scalable manufacturing processes for recombinant protein vaccines. By leveraging Samsung Biologics' large-scale mammalian cell-based production infrastructure and advanced quality and regulatory management systems, the goal is to build a preconfigured vaccine manufacturing platform that can be activated immediately when a new infectious disease arises.
As part of the agreement, Samsung Biologics will also conduct a simulated infectious disease response drill using "wild-type H5 influenza," a representative pathogen recommended by the WHO. The plan is to demonstrate the capability to perform the entire process from antigen development to production and supply, verify mass-production capacity for vaccines, and secure data that can be used in future regulatory approval procedures.
Under this collaboration, Samsung Biologics plans to supply CEPI with up to 50 million doses of vaccines in the event of a pandemic, while also securing additional production capacity for up to 1 billion doses of drug substance (DS) that can be converted into vaccines. This supply system is designed to prioritize support for low-income countries while meeting Korea's national demand within a certain scope.
This partnership is a strategic collaboration to realize CEPI's core mission of developing vaccines within 100 days after identifying a novel pathogen. It expands the technical diversity and geographic reach of CEPI's vaccine manufacturing network. Notably, as the first official collaboration in East Asia, it is expected to contribute to decentralizing the global vaccine supply chain and improving the speed of pandemic response.
Richard Hatchett, head of CEPI, said, "Samsung Biologics' recombinant protein production capability will be a key asset that further strengthens CEPI's vaccine response infrastructure," adding, "This collaboration will speed the transition from vaccine design to production and enable faster supply to vulnerable regions."