No event or global story has dominated public consciousness like COVID-19, which has transformed life as everyone knows it. The pandemic caused nations to become reliant on the work of biopharmaceutical companies and scientific researchers seeking to first develop a vaccine and then manufacture that vaccine for widespread use.
While most people might all be familiar with some of the most high-profile names associated with those vaccines— Moderna, Pfizer, etc.— there are other names that are a vital part of helping these pharmaceutical companies manufacture and produce the vaccines. These companies have also provided important services to keep the vaccine distribution going.
One of those names is Samsung Biologics, a top CDMO company that’s become increasingly important in the COVID-19 fight.
Introduction to Samsung Biologics
Samsung Biologics is a biopharmaceutical CDMO, which stands for contract development and manufacturing organization. CDMOs partner with other companies to help expand their capabilities, whether it comes to boosting their manufacturing output or helping with the development phase.
Samsung Biologics specifically offers contract development, manufacturing, and bioanalytical testing services. They’re known for bringing regulatory approvals, large manufacturing capacity, and fast output to every contract, and have won several industry awards while also being a trusted partner within the biopharmaceutical and healthcare industries.
Partnership with Moderna
In May 2021, Samsung Biologics partnered with Moderna in a CDMO capacity, helping provide manufacturing and supply services to the leading vaccine developer— specifically, helping with large-scale, commercial-grade fill-finish for their mRNA-1273 COVID vaccine.
Moderna will benefit from Samsung Biologics’ state-of-the-art production line, which is capable of completing aseptic fill-finish, labeling, and packaging work in order to help Moderna produce the hundreds of millions of doses required to keep the disease at bay around the globe.
“This vaccine is paramount to people around the world in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and we truly appreciate our client Moderna for entrusting and choosing to partner with Samsung Biologics for the fill and finish of this important vaccine,” said John Rim, CEO of Samsung Biologics.
Development of mRNA Facility
Soon, Samsung Biologics will have the capability to move beyond its current role as a CDMO to provide a drug product manufacturing service of mRNA vaccine production, to be also capable of producing mRNA drug substances at its manufacturing facilities. They recently announced that by the first half of 2022, they’ll be adding mRNA vaccine drug substance production capabilities to their service offerings at their Songdo facility.
“We are constantly assessing various ways that we can expand and purify our current business portfolio to better serve the market,” said John Rim. “We are committed to helping our clients provide quality treatments and vaccines to all those in need around the world, especially in difficult times like this, and with this extended capability, we hope to support our partners in bringing novel mRNA vaccines and therapeutics to market at a faster pace.”
