PR Center(News)

[Press Release] PCMO Showcases mRNA-LNP Manufacturing Facility at BIX 2025

- Korea’s largest biopharmaceutical exhibition “BIX 2025” held from October 15 to 17- Operated an independent exhibition booth for the fourth consecutive year▲ Exhibition booth of PCMO at BIX 2025PCMO (Director: Cho Min, hereinafter referred to as the “Center”) announced on the 21st that it participated in the BioPlus-Interphex Korea 2025 (BIX 2025), held from October 15 to 17 at COEX in Seoul, where it held business meetings with domestic and international companies specializing in mRNA-related materials, parts, and equipment to strengthen technological cooperation.At BIX 2025, the largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology exhibition in Korea, the Center discussed collaboration opportunities with global drug development companies and showcased its capabilities and role as a public CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization). Established in 2017, the Center has completed the construction of its new mRNA manufacturing facility this year, marking a major step toward expanding into new business areas.Building on its experience as a public CDMO institution, the Center is now promoting projects focused on localizing key mRNA/LNP-based materials, supporting the establishment of manufacturing process demonstration infrastructure, and providing end-to-end R&D support including GMP certification and technical consulting.A Center representative stated, “With the dedicated mRNA/LNP GMP facility nearing completion, securing a stable supply chain through the localization of raw materials and core technologies has become more important than ever,” adding, “Through participation in BIX 2025, we were able to expand practical technology cooperation networks with both domestic and international component and equipment companies.”▲ From left: PCMO main plant, mRNA building, and training centerMeanwhile, in July 2025, the Center opened an advanced training and production complex equipped for large-scale GMP operations—the largest of its kind in the Gwangju-Jeonnam region. Supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Jeollanam-do Province, and Hwasun County, the Center is actively nurturing skilled professionals in vaccine and biopharmaceutical production through the Vaccine Industry Professional Workforce Development Program.During the exhibition, the Center also received a high volume of inquiries not only about its CDMO services but also about its educational programs, reaffirming strong industry interest. The Center continues to solidify its position as both a public CDMO hub and a biopharmaceutical education institute, with growing expectations for its future development.

[Press Release] PCMO Concludes Pharmaceutical Plant Field Trip for Hwasun Jeil Middle School

- From September 4 to 19, a total of 471 students from grades 1 to 3 at Hwasun Jeil Middle School participated in the field trip program.▲ Director Cho Min delivering a lecturePCMO (Director: Cho Min, hereafter referred to as the Center) announced that it successfully concluded a one-day pharmaceutical plant field trip program for all 471 students of grades 1 to 3 at Hwasun Jeil Middle School.The program was designed to help students easily understand the importance of vaccines and GMP, as well as the process of pharmaceutical production. It consisted of ▲theoretical lectures, ▲a guided tour of the Center’s GMP manufacturing facilities, and ▲hands-on training in production and quality testing. Notably, the lectures and practical sessions were conducted by the Center’s experts, who have years of experience carrying out CDMO projects, further enhancing the educational value.This initiative was part of the Jeonnam Educational Development Special Zone program and was intended to help students gain an understanding of the Hwasun Bio-Cluster ecosystem while exploring diverse career paths in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Some students actively expressed their interest by asking questions such as, “What process should I go through to join the Center in the future?”Building on this first field trip, Hwasun Jeil Middle School and the Center are discussing the operation of more advanced curricula tailored for science clubs and students interested in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. Through this collaboration, the two institutions aim to contribute to nurturing future pharmaceutical professionals.▲ Students participating in quality control practice sessions▲ Students taking part in pharmaceutical production trainingSince its establishment in 2017, the Center has been operating as a public CDMO following the completion of its main building in 2020. Over the years, it has built a diverse track record, including COVID-19 vaccine development, production of clinical phase 3 samples, and mRNA vaccine manufacturing. Based on this expertise, the Center has also been running training programs for universities, educational institutions, and job seekers since 2023 as part of the “Vaccine Industry Professional Workforce Training Project.”In July 2025, the Center opened the largest advanced GMP training facility in the Gwangju–Jeonnam region and has since been actively operating it. The facility is being equipped with pharmaceutical production systems for hands-on training, covering processes from microbial cultivation to purification, as well as instruments for quality control practices such as physicochemical analysis, microbiological testing, and environmental monitoring, all of which are scheduled to be fully established within this year.Furthermore, the Center has already achieved its target of training 900 graduates by 2026, and it is expected to play a significant role in fostering pharmaceutical professionals across the entire Honam region.

[Press Release] PCMO and Chosun University Complete 3-Week Vaccine Training Program

- August 11–29, intensive three-week course concluded successfully... Comprehensive training from production to quality control▲ Professor Kyu-Min Kim of Chosun University with 16 graduates of the programPCMO (Director: Cho Min, hereinafter “the Center”) announced that it successfully completed a three-week Vaccine Training Program for 16 students from Chosun University’s Department of Biomedical Sciences and related majors, held from August 11 to 29.The program was designed in accordance with the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards set by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, combining theory and practical training for better understanding. The curriculum covered ▲Basic GMP training ▲Validation ▲Biopharmaceutical cultivation and purification ▲Utilities (facility management) ▲Quality Control (QC) ▲Virtual Reality (VR)-based cultivation and purification practice. Each session was delivered by experts with extensive field experience, providing participants with practical and industry-relevant insights.Since 2023, the Center and Chosun University have been jointly operating this training curriculum, producing more than 80 graduates to date. More than half of the participants have successfully secured employment in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, with many reporting that the Center’s training was a significant factor in their career development.▲ Education Center of the PCMOMeanwhile, supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Hwasun County, the Center is preparing to open a state-of-the-art GMP Training Facility in July 2025 — the largest of its kind in the Gwangju–Jeonnam region.The new training center will be equipped with advanced pharmaceutical production systems, including a 50L bioreactor, autoclave, continuous centrifuge, as well as analytical instruments such as HPLC and LC-MS. It will also support microbiological testing, environmental monitoring, and QC training. The Center aims to train more than 900 professionals by 2026 and will collaborate with the WHO Global Bio Hwasun Campus to strengthen domestic and international vaccine capabilities.

[Press Release] PCMO and Hwasun High School Successfully Complete Vaccine Expert Training Program

-Three-day program from July 30 to August 1 concludes successfully, nurturing future vaccine professionals▲Hwasun High School student receiving a certificate of completion PCMO (Director: Cho Min, hereinafter referred to as the “Center”) and Hwasun High School have announced the successful completion of a three-day Vaccine Expert Training Program held from July 30 to August 1 for 16 third-year students. This training utilized the Center’s state-of-the-art GMP infrastructure located in the Jeonnam Hwasun Vaccine Industry Special Zone and was structured to combine theoretical learning with hands-on practice. Students were exposed not only to laboratory theory but also to practical training with on-site equipment, GMP document management, and VR-based production process simulations—gaining real-world industrial experience. Notably, this was the first meaningful educational program launched since a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed this past May among five institutions, including Hwasun High School and Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), for operating the Jeonnam Education Development Special Zone. The program marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between Hwasun High School and regional innovation initiatives. Leveraging this opportunity, Hwasun High School aims to evolve into a nationally recognized specialized institution for nurturing pharmaceutical and bio-industry professionals, in alignment with the Hwasun Bio Specialized District. As the largest public academic high school in Hwasun County, its future endeavors are expected to draw considerable attention. In June 2023, Hwasun County was designated as one of only five Bio Specialized Districts nationwide. With plans to develop a high-tech vaccine and immunotherapy complex spanning approximately 730,000 square meters, the county is actively focusing on bio and vaccine industry development.▲(From left) Main Plant of PCMO, mRNA Manufacturing Building and the Training CenterMeanwhile, the Center has officially launched its full-scale human resource development efforts this year by opening an advanced training facility—the largest GMP practice education center in the Gwangju-Jeonnam region—under the “Vaccine Industry Professional Workforce Training Project” supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Hwasun County, Jeollanam-do.This new facility will be equipped with pharmaceutical production systems, including a 50L bioreactor for microbial cultivation and purification, an autoclave, and a continuous centrifuge. It will also offer hands-on quality control training using equipment such as HPLC and LC-MS for physicochemical analysis, microbial testing, and environmental monitoring. With a goal of training over 900 professionals by 2026, the Center also plans to contribute to strengthening global vaccine capabilities through collaboration with the WHO’s Global Bio Campus Hwasun initiative.

[Press Release] PCMO Signs MOU with RPEXBIO… Joint Development of mRNA Pharmaceuticals

▲ Logos of RPEXBio Co., Ltd. and PCMOPCMO (Director: Cho Min, hereinafter referred to as the “Center”) announced on the 12th that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with RPEXBIO Co., Ltd. (CEO: Oh Jong-won) to promote mutual cooperation in the development of mRNA-based pharmaceuticals. This agreement aims to establish a collaborative mRNA-based bioindustry ecosystem by combining the core capabilities of both institutions for the development and commercialization of new pipelines utilizing mRNA source technologies. The two parties plan to cooperate broadly across the mRNA industry, including the planning and execution of joint R&D projects. Under the agreement, RPEXBIO will pursue: ▲ Establishment and evaluation of technology based on mRNA and self-amplifying RNA platform technologies, ▲ Establishment of mRNA/LNP manufacturing processes, ▲ Development of new product platforms, and ▲ Collaboration with domestic companies developing mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. The Center will be responsible for: ▲ Providing GMP-based process development and manufacturing infrastructure for mRNA pharmaceuticals, ▲ Consulting for technology transfer and commercialization, and ▲ End-to-end support including drug substance and drug product manufacturing. This enables the Center to function as a public CDMO that connects early-stage R&D to production.▲ From left: PCMO main plant, mRNA building, and Training center The Center is currently expanding its mRNA CDMO operations based on its existing manufacturing facilities and new mRNA production building. By next year, it plans to complete a full production system capable of delivering mRNA vaccines for non-clinical use to emergency national supply. A new isolator-equipped pre-filled syringe line is also under construction, enabling production of finished drug products in 1ml pre-filled syringes and 2R and 6R vials, significantly expanding the scope of operations. RPEXBIO is a biotechnology company focused on the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases using RNA-based technologies. The company possesses proprietary mRNA platform technologies and next-generation vaccine technologies based on reverse genetics of RNA viruses. Drawing on its experience developing COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, RPEXBIO is building a diverse pipeline of vaccines and therapeutics and is committed to advancing healthcare and improving public health through enhanced safety and efficacy using non-modified nucleic acids. Meanwhile, the Korean government is actively supporting the development of new mRNA pharmaceuticals, with many domestic pharmaceutical companies also concentrating their capabilities in this area. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) plans to invest KRW 505.2 billion by 2028 in companies such as GC Biopharma, EuBiologics, Korea BMI, and LemoNex through the “Pandemic Preparedness mRNA Vaccine Development Support Project,” with the goal of achieving mRNA vaccine approvals. Through this agreement, both organizations are expected to strengthen the competitiveness of Korea’s mRNA-based bioindustry by leveraging their specialized expertise and infrastructure. Their continued partnership is anticipated to accelerate domestic self-sufficiency in vaccines and therapeutics and serve as a key turning point in achieving technological independence and global expansion in the Korean bio-ecosystem.

[Press Release] PCMO and Korea Polytechnics Sign MOU for Bio Talent Development

▲ Signing ceremony photo ▲ Signing ceremony photo 2PCMO (Director: Cho Min, hereinafter referred to as "the Center") announced on the 11th that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Bio Campus of Korea Polytechnics to foster professional talent in the bio sector. This agreement aims to establish a collaborative framework for cultivating skilled professionals in the bio industry by sharing the latest trends in education and career exploration. The Center and the Bio Campus plan to expand hands-on education and field training opportunities by leveraging each institution's expertise and infrastructure. Key areas of cooperation include:▲ Joint use of facilities and equipment▲ Sharing admissions and career-related information▲ Exchanging know-how in professional workforce development▲ Collaborating on curriculum design and implementation▲ Logos of Korea Polytechnics Bio Campus and PCMO Korea Polytechnics Bio Campus is the only bio-specialized campus in the nation. It offers five specialized departments: Bioprocess Engineering, Biopharmaceutical Analysis, Bioquality Control, Bionanomaterials, and Bioinformatics. Over the past three years, it has achieved an average employment rate of 88.6%, with 87.1% employed by large and mid-sized companies, and a 93.6% full-time employment rate. Notably, 46 graduates have joined Samsung Biologics, among other leading companies in Korea’s bio industry. Meanwhile, the Center is set to launch a full-scale training program in June 2025 through its new Training center, part of the Vaccine Industry Talent Development Project supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Hwasun County. The Center aims to train over 900 individuals by 2026 and is also contributing to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Global Bio Campus initiative, supporting global vaccine capacity building as well as regional development. The training center, scheduled for completion in June 2025, will serve as the largest GMP hands-on training facility in the Gwangju-Jeonnam region. It is expected to generate strong synergy in future academia-industry cooperation. The facility will offer practical training in pharmaceutical manufacturing and quality control using state-of-the-art equipment including 50L bioreactors, autoclaves, continuous centrifuges, HPLC, and LC-MS systems. A representative from the Center stated, “This agreement will provide students with close exposure to real-world bio manufacturing sites and serve as a stepping stone to becoming key leaders in the industry,” adding, “We will continue to strengthen educational partnerships to nurture the future of the bio field.”