Chairman Wen “Corona treatment / vaccine, self-development must be successful even if import is possible”

Entry 2020.10.15 18:08

“The plan to ensure the priority of vaccines for 30 million people is progressing steadily”
Choi Tae-won “The uncertainty about the development of the vaccine is high, but it must be achieved”
Seo Jeong-jin “Public officials work all night to develop treatments”

President Moon Jae-in said on the 15th: “Even if other countries succeed in development first and we can import, we must succeed in self-development to the end” regarding corona treatment and the vaccine that is being developed in all the world.

President Moon visited SK Bioscience, a vaccine developer in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, and told a meeting: “It is necessary to accumulate experience in development and it is necessary to reduce supply prices as experienced during swine flu.” .

The Korean government has a plan to secure quantities when corona vaccines are developed abroad. President Moon said: “We have been waging battles to secure vaccines abroad and have been consulting with the world’s leading vaccine companies along with international joint purchases through COVAX (COVAX International Vaccine Supply and Development Project).” . We can expect the large-scale production of the treatment within this year and the development of the vaccine next year. “He said:” The plan to ensure a total of 30 million vaccines, which represents 60% of the Korean population, also it’s making steady progress. “

President Moon said, “The good news is that Korea is also seeing significant results in vaccine and treatment development amid fierce global competition,” said President Moon. “Especially looking at the field of vaccine development today, I have new feelings and confidence in our technology.” .

President Moon said of SK Bioscience: “We are developing a safe and effective synthetic antigen vaccine, and we are starting a clinical trial this month.” “With advanced facilities and excellent production capabilities, global vaccine companies such as AstraZeneca and NovaVax“ We are discussing production shipments with the company. ”Regarding Genexine and Genewon Life Sciences, he said:“ We are accelerating the development of vaccines from DNA and starting clinical trials and non-clinical trials. “

President Moon said of Celltrion: “We are developing an antibody treatment and we are conducting phases 2 and 3, which are the final stages of clinical trials.” Regarding GC Green Cross, he said: “We hope that the developed plasma treatment will also enter phase 2 clinical trials and can be used to treat patients this year.”

President Moon repeatedly emphasized, “The government will spare no support until it is definitely successful” and “I believe that K-Bio will once again be a hope and pride for us after K’s quarantine.”

President Moon arrived at SK Bioscience this afternoon and toured the research facility prior to the meeting. When asked by President Moon, “Which of the self-developed corona vaccine or the vaccine developed jointly with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is progressing the fastest?”, An SK Bioscience official said, “The first task we start is a little faster. ” “There is a difference in the technical aspect of the task.”

SK President Tae-won Choi, SK Bioscience CEO Jae-yong Ahn, and Celltrion Group President Seo Jeong-jin also attended the meeting. President Choi said, “Vaccine development requires long-term investment and has great uncertainty, but we will definitely achieve it to achieve the social value of the company.” He also told President Moon, “Thank you for showing strong leadership and supporting vaccine development throughout the government.”

President Seo said: “(Celltrion) alone is not possible due to lack of infrastructure. I have seen public officials from the National Institute of Health, Disease Control and Prevention and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety working through the night ( for support) “. I ask the president to also praise public officials, ”he said.