- Advanced recombinant VLP production platform enables superior quality compared to first-generation vaccines 

▲ Logos of Vaxdigm, Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, and PCMO

PCMO (Director: Min Jo) located in Hwasun, Jeollanam-do, announced on the 3rd that it has partnered with Vaxdigm (CEO: Sungjae Kim) and the Department of Microbiology at the Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine (led by Professor Sangwook Suh) to develop a next-generation Japanese encephalitis vaccine.

By the first half of 2025, PCMO plans to enhance manufacturing processes to enable large-scale production in GMP facilities, based on research findings secured by Vaxdigm and the Catholic University of Korea. As vaccine safety and regulatory approval are critical in clinical trials, this phase marks a pivotal stage in the end-to-end drug development process.

The next-generation Japanese encephalitis vaccine employs recombinant virus-like particle (VLP) production technology, offering improved productivity and quality control compared to first-generation live and inactivated vaccines. Recent studies reveal that the current vaccines are ineffective against the dominant genotype 5 Japanese encephalitis virus circulating in Korea, further underscoring the urgency of developing new vaccines.

▲ Panoramic view of PCMO

Founded in 2021, Vaxdigm is a pioneering biotech venture leading innovative vaccine development using its proprietary microbial-based rapid protein antigen production platform. This groundbreaking technology delivers superior stability and cost-effectiveness, equipping the company with a competitive edge in the next-generation vaccine market. In addition to the Japanese encephalitis vaccine, Vaxdigm is actively working on developing vaccines to counter future pandemics, including influenza vaccines.

Since its establishment in 2017 with support from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Hwasun County, Jeollanam-do, PCMO has successfully developed processes for over 30 products. It renewed its GMP certification in November 2024, further solidifying its role as a public CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization).

Representatives from Vaxdigm and Professor Sangwook Suh's team at the Catholic University of Korea disclosed plans to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2025. They emphasized the necessity of new vaccine development, citing the high mortality rate of genotype 5 Japanese encephalitis virus and the low protective efficacy of existing vaccines.

According to UNICEF's Japanese Encephalitis Market Report, the global Japanese encephalitis vaccine market is projected to grow from KRW 3.2 trillion in 2023 to KRW 5.5 trillion by 2031. The successful development of this next-generation vaccine is expected to capture this increasing market demand.