- A total of 172 cumulative projects completed… tangible outcomes achieved, including workforce development programs

- mRNA manufacturing facility to begin operations in July this year, strengthening global CDMO capabilities

▲ PCMO Center view 

PCMO in Hwasun, Jeollanam-do, marked its 9th anniversary of foundation on January 25, 2026, and announced its future operational direction for supporting the biopharmaceutical industry, reflecting on the business achievements it has accumulated as a public CDMO institution.

Since its establishment in 2017, PCMO has provided end-to-end CDMO services covering the entire development lifecycle, from early-stage vaccine and biopharmaceutical development to process establishment and raw material production. The center supports small and venture companies with limited R&D infrastructure by offering pilot-scale manufacturing and process development services. Through these efforts, PCMO has lowered entry barriers in the early stages of domestic biopharmaceutical development and contributed to regional industrial growth in Hwasun County, Jeollanam-do.

PCMO’s CDMO business performance has shown steady annual growth. In 2025 alone, the center conducted a total of 55 projects, representing an increase of 19 projects compared to the previous year and achieving a growth rate of approximately 53%. Since its establishment, the cumulative number of completed projects has reached 172, with cumulative results by application including 67 vaccine projects and 43 therapeutic projects, demonstrating achievements across diverse fields.

In particular, among cumulative project types, Cell Bank (MCB, WCB) manufacturing projects stood out. Despite challenging conditions for early-stage biopharmaceutical companies due to reduced market investment and changes in the government support environment, the number of Cell Bank-related projects remained relatively stable. This indicates continued demand for PCMO’s CDMO services focused on process verification and foundational infrastructure development at the early stages of product development.

Reflecting these business outcomes and changes in the industry environment, PCMO plans to move beyond short-term contract manufacturing support and strengthen its operational strategy to enable early-stage companies to pursue technology validation and process stabilization in a phased and systematic manner. The center aims to mitigate development risks for companies and provide structured support linking early development to commercialization. To further specify this strategy, PCMO plans to officially commence operation of its mRNA manufacturing facility in July this year.

The newly established mRNA manufacturing facility at PCMO is a GMP-compliant facility capable of integrated production from drug substance to finished drug products. It will support the production of biopharmaceuticals in formats including 1 mL prefilled syringes and 2R and 6R vials. With full-process capabilities covering mRNA synthesis, modification, delivery system manufacturing, and finished drug production, the facility is expected to significantly strengthen the public CDMO infrastructure for mRNA vaccine and therapeutic development.

Meanwhile, PCMO has also achieved tangible results in the area of specialized workforce development. At the education center completed last year, PCMO is providing GMP training programs for biopharmaceuticals to elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as university students across the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions. The programs emphasize hands-on training, allowing participants to directly experience all stages from cell culture and purification to quality control. As a result, approximately 75% of trainees who completed the program last year secured employment in the bio-industry sector.

Building on its experience in pilot-based CDMO operations and workforce training programs, PCMO stated its goal of establishing itself as a globally competitive collaboration partner. Leveraging its advanced infrastructure and technical systems, the center plans to enhance its competitiveness and expand its role in supporting the growth and innovation of both domestic and international companies. To this end, PCMO will progressively expand its scope of process development support and further advance its expertise in testing services, including quality testing and cell line characterization analysis.