PR Center(News)

[Press Release] PCMO Signs MOU with Neungju High School in Hwasun, Jeollanam-do for Bio Training

-Early Training of Bio Talent… Establishing a Practical Training Cooperation System Beyond University Education▲ Signing ceremony of the MOU between PCMO and Neungju High SchoolPCMO (Director Min Cho, hereinafter referred to as the "Center") announced on the 14th that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Neungju High School (Principal Taemo Seong) in Hwasun to cultivate bio professionals in the Jeollanam-do region.The key objective of this agreement is to share the latest trends in education and career exploration while establishing a cooperative network for specialized workforce training. Through this, students will be provided with effective career exploration opportunities and a sustainable talent development cooperation system.Neungju High School, in collaboration with the Center, will offer students diverse information on careers and college admissions in the bio and pharmaceutical sectors while contributing to the establishment of hands-on training and experiential learning opportunities. This initiative aims to allow students to gain practical industry experience that is often difficult to access even at the university level. It also aligns with the recent emphasis on training specialized technical and creative convergence talents in specialized high schools and meister high schools.Neungju High School has particularly established itself as a "prestigious regional" private high school, maintaining the highest ranking in Seoul National University acceptance rates in Jeollanam-do every year. With this agreement, the school is expected to go beyond simply producing outstanding academic results and become the only high school in the country that nurtures on-site industry-ready talents, particularly in the rapidly growing bio sector.▲ From the left: PCMO Main Plant, mRNA Manufacturing Facility, and Educational FacilityMeanwhile, the Center is set to open an educational facility in June 2025 under the Vaccine Industry Professional Training Project supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy and Hwasun County, Jeollanam-do. The goal is to train more than 900 graduates by 2026, and in response to high demand, the Center plans to expand its training operations upon the facility’s completion.The educational facility, slated for completion in June 2025, will be the largest GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) training center in the Gwangju-Jeollanam-do region. It will be equipped with cutting-edge facilities that enable hands-on experience in microbial cultivation and purification, including a 50L bioreactor, autoclave, and continuous centrifuge. Additionally, students will have access to analytical instruments such as HPLC and LC-MS for physicochemical analysis, microbial testing, environmental monitoring, and quality control training, further broadening the scope of collaboration with educational institutions.Leveraging this infrastructure, the Center aims to establish itself as a key educational hub for bio-pharmaceutical industry workforce training in the Gwangju-Jeollanam-do region. This initiative is expected to significantly contribute to strengthening GMP capabilities in the region and advancing the high-tech bio industry, in conjunction with the designation of the Hwasun Bio Cluster.

[Press Release] PCMO Successfully Concludes Winter Break GMP Training Program for Vaccine

-Conducted from February 13 to February 26 for two weeks… Combining theory and hands-on training at a cGMP-certified manufacturing facility in Hwasun, Jeollanam-do▲ Completion ceremony in front of the Microbial Bioprocess Center buildingPCMO (Director Min Cho, hereinafter referred to as the "Center") announced on the 27th that it successfully completed its GMP training program for vaccines and biopharmaceuticals, which was conducted for 16 students majoring in biotechnology and life sciences from February 13 to February 26.This training program was held at the Center, located in Hwasun's Vaccine Industry Special Zone, and featured a structured curriculum combining theoretical education with practical training. Notably, the Center utilized its state-of-the-art cGMP facilities to provide insights into the latest R&D trends, while also hosting networking sessions with industry professionals to encourage active participation from trainees.The training curriculum was designed based on the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines established by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, ensuring that students could easily grasp real-world applications through a balance of theory and hands-on experience. Key training modules included;▲Fundamentals of GMP▲Validation and equipment qualification▲Manufacturing site theory and facility tour▲Utility (facility management) theory and practical training▲Quality control (QC) training▲Virtual reality (VR)-based bioprocess training.Lectures were delivered by industry experts with extensive hands-on experience, further enhancing the program’s practical value.▲ Conducting VR training▲ Conducting validation trainingFor the first time, the Center conducted a nationwide open recruitment for this training program, receiving 38 applications for 16 available spots, resulting in a competitive ratio of 2.38:1. The Center conducted a rigorous selection process, prioritizing candidates with academic backgrounds in vaccines and biopharmaceuticals, thereby providing practical training opportunities to individuals in need of industry experience.One participant expressed their satisfaction with the program, stating, "The two-week training was incredibly insightful and helped me gain hands-on experience. I hope there will be a longer curriculum available in the future. This program has given me a competitive edge in preparing for various industry roles."Meanwhile, the Center is preparing to expand its training initiatives through the Vaccine Industry Professional Training Project, supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy and Hwasun County, Jeollanam-do. With the opening of a new training facility in June 2025, the Center aims to train more than 900 professionals by 2026. In response to the high demand observed in this training program, the Center is planning a significant expansion of its training operations upon the facility’s completion.The new training center, set to open in June 2025, will be the largest GMP training facility in the Gwangju-Jeonnam region, equipped with state-of-the-art bioprocessing and quality control equipment. This includes 50L bioreactors, autoclaves, continuous centrifuges for pharmaceutical production, as well as HPLC, LC-MS, and microbial/environmental monitoring instruments for quality control training.With these advanced facilities, the Center aims to establish itself as a leading educational hub for biopharmaceutical manufacturing in the Gwangju-Jeonnam region. This initiative, in conjunction with Hwasun’s designation as a specialized biotech cluster, is expected to significantly strengthen local GMP capabilities and contribute to the advancement of the cutting-edge biopharmaceutical industry.

[Press Release] PCMO Completes GMP Training with Chosun University

- Two-week training from January 9 to January 22, featuring hands-on experience at a cGMP-grade facility in Hwasun, Jeollanam-do▲ Chosun University’s Department of Biomedical Sciences Chair, Seokjun Kim, Professor Chulwoong Choi, and 15 program graduatesPCMO in Hwasun, Jeollanam-do (Director Min Cho, hereinafter referred to as the Center) announced on the 24th that it has successfully completed a two-week GMP training program for 15 students, including those from the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Chosun University, from January 9 to January 22.The training was conducted at the Center, located in the Hwasun Vaccine Industry Special Zone, and featured a curriculum combining theoretical instruction with hands-on field training. By utilizing the Center’s state-of-the-art GMP facilities, the program engaged participants through practical training, industry trend analysis, and networking sessions with industry professionals.The curriculum was designed based on the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards set by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), ensuring a balanced mix of theoretical and practical education. Training topics included: - Introduction to GMP fundamentals - Validation and equipment qualification - Manufacturing site theory and facility tours - Utilities (facility management) theory and hands-on training - Quality control (QC) training - VR-based bioreactor process training Expert instructors, drawing from their field experience, led the sessions to enhance participants' understanding of GMP operations.The comprehensive blend of theory and hands-on experience resulted in an overall satisfaction score of 95.9%. Notably, hands-on training with bioreactors, purification equipment, and QC testing received exceptionally high praise, achieving a satisfaction score of 98.▲ Hands-on training in bioreactor cultivationSome participants shared their feedback, stating, “The training was highly practical, allowing us to experience real-world operations,” and “The insights from industry professionals on job interviews and workplace expectations were extremely valuable.”The Center is set to launch a large-scale workforce development initiative with the opening of a new training facility in June 2025, as part of theVaccine Industry Professional Training Projectsupported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy and Hwasun County, Jeollanam-do. The goal is to train and graduate more than 900 professionals by 2026.Scheduled for completion in June 2025, the new training center will be the largest GMP training facility in the Gwangju-Jeonnam region. Equipped with advanced training infrastructure, it aims to serve as a hub for nurturing experts in the biopharmaceutical industry. Along with the designation of Hwasun as a specialized biotech cluster, the facility is expected to significantly enhance GMP capabilities in the region and drive the growth of the advanced bioindustry.

[Press Release] PCMO Advances Next-Gen Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine Development

- Advanced recombinant VLP production platform enables superior quality compared to first-generation vaccines▲ Logos of Vaxdigm, Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, and PCMOPCMO (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 PCMOFounded 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.

[Press Release] PCMO Signs MoU with BXPLANT for Comprehensive Pharma Development Collaboration

- CDRO and CDMO integration to drive full-cycle pharmaceutical development collaboration▲ BXPLANT CEO Min-geun Jo and PCMO Director Min Cho at the MoU SigningPCMO (Director Min Cho, hereafter referred to as the Center) announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BXPLANT (CEO Min-geun Jo, Hee-seon Kim) on December 3rd, aiming for comprehensive collaboration in the full cycle of pharmaceutical development.The main objective of this MoU is for the two organizations to share the latest trends in the pharmaceutical CDRO (Contract Development and Research Organization) and CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) industries, and to establish a collaborative network throughout the entire pharmaceutical development process. BXPLANT plans to combine its CDRO services with PCMO's manufacturing technologies and production capabilities to enhance the domestic bio industry and secure competitiveness in the global bio market.BXPLANT provides CDRO services to domestic biotech venture companies, offering full-cycle support from clinical development strategy formulation to preclinical and clinical phases. The company also plans to expand its role as a "scalerator," focusing on company discovery, investment attraction, and consulting for capital raising, thus actively supporting the growth of biotech companies.PCMO plans to complete the construction of mRNA vaccine production facility by the first half of 2025, and based on its accumulated experience from over 100 projects, it will further strengthen support for domestic pharmaceutical and bio companies. Since its establishment in 2017, with investments from Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Jeonnam-do Hwasun County, PCMO has been continuously supporting the development of domestic vaccines and biopharmaceuticals.▲ Logos of BXPLANT and PCMOThrough this collaboration, the two organizations aim to build a full-cycle collaboration network based on their respective expertise, expanding technological innovation and growth potential in the bio sector. As global biotech companies have been actively investing in the CDRO and CDMO markets in recent years, the future developments of the two organizations are expected to be highly promising. Meanwhile, BXPLANT CEO Min-geun Jo emphasized, "Through our collaboration with PCMO, we aim to combine our CDRO services with manufacturing and production capabilities, elevating the level of the domestic bio industry and strengthening our competitiveness in the global market. This MoU is not just a business agreement but an important starting point that will help accelerate the growth of the biotech ecosystem."

[Press Release] PCMO Successfully Concludes the Expert Network Event on Innovative New Drug Material

-Held on November 5 at PCMO in Hwasun, Jeonnam… Co-organized with Hwasun Chonnam National University Hospital▲ Group photo of innovative new drug materials expertsPCMO (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 PCMOThe "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.