-  Held on November 5 at PCMO in Hwasun, Jeonnam… Co-organized with Hwasun Chonnam National University Hospital

▲    Group photo of innovative new drug materials experts

PCMO (Director Min Cho, hereafter referred to as the Center) in Hwasun, Jeonnam, announced the successful conclusion of the "Innovative New Drug Materials Expert Network" event, co-hosted with Hwasun Chonnam National University Hospital on November 5.

The event aimed to introduce the "Innovative New Drug Materials Commercialization and Core Nonclinical Proof-of-Concept Support Project," co-managed by Hwasun Chonnam National University Hospital and the Center. Attendees included pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry stakeholders, and the event provided an opportunity to explore potential collaborations, build networks among participants, and discuss the shared use of infrastructure and the development of new projects.

Participants included directors and managers from 12 companies who discussed the potential for joint projects in a dedicated networking session. Numerous companies expressed a keen interest in the Center’s facilities and the details of the project, leading to active discussions and some preliminary business partnership talks.

▲    Tour of the production facilities at PCMO

The "Innovative New Drug Materials Core Nonclinical Proof-of-Concept Infrastructure Development Project" is led by Hwasun Chonnam National University Hospital, in collaboration with the Center. This initiative will receive approximately 7.2 billion KRW (USD 5.4 million) in national and local government funding by 2027, with the goal of building a testbed for blockbuster drug development and supporting commercialization to aid pharmaceutical companies in developing new drugs.

Located in the Hwasun Vaccine Industry Special Zone, the Center provides CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) services for pharmaceuticals using microbial technology and is currently constructing a facility for mRNA pharmaceutical CDMO services, which is expected to be completed by the second half of 2025. With support from the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy and Hwasun County in Jeonnam, this facility will allow Korea to secure the capacity to manufacture vaccines for the entire population in the event of a national emergency.