PR Center(News)

[Press Release] PCMO Partners with MirimGENE Co., Ltd. to Develop Tuberculosis Treatment

-Targeting the tuberculosis treatment market, projected to reach approximately $3 billion (₩4.13 trillion) by 2030… Aiming at a high-risk disease with a 12% mortality rate▲ PCMO-MirimGENE Co. logoPCMO (Director Min Cho, hereafter referred to as the Center) announced on the 16th that it is collaborating with MirimGENE Co., Ltd. (CEO Mirim Jin) to jointly develop a ‘recombinant protein treatment for tuberculosis’ based on an innovative drug platform targeting WARS1 (Tryptophanyl tRNA synthetase 1).WARS1 is an endogenous human factor that is secreted into the blood from monocytes within minutes of infection, activating innate immunity.MirimGENE Co., Ltd. has been the first in the world to elucidate the immune activation function and mechanism of action of WARS1 and is developing a first-in-class innovative drug targeting it. MirimGENE Co., Ltd. possesses a robust pipeline of treatments not only for tuberculosis but also for over-inflammatory sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, atopic dermatitis, and other autoimmune and rare diseases, as well as infectious diseases, using its proprietary new drug development technology with the WITheranostics platform (WARS1 targeted-Immune disorder Theranostics).The Center, with its extensive experience in various contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) projects since obtaining GMP certification in 2021, will cooperate to accelerate the research and development of MirimGENE Co., Ltd.’s tuberculosis treatment and bring it to market. The Center has significant experience in tuberculosis vaccine research and development, instilling confidence in the success of this project.Meanwhile, the market for tuberculosis treatment, targeted by MirimGENE Co., Ltd., is expected to grow to approximately $3 billion (₩4.13 trillion) by 2030. According to the World Health Organization’s 2022 Global Tuberculosis Report, approximately 10.6 million people were infected, with the death toll reaching 1.3 million, highlighting the high mortality rate and the critical need for new drug development.

[Press Release] PCMO Participate in BIX 2024, Showcasing Advanced mRNA Services

- To be held at COEX in Seoul from July 10th to 12th, with participation from global pharmaceutical companies such as Samsung Bioepis, Lonza, and Merck.▲ PCMO Booth Design ModelPCMO (Director: Min Cho, hereafter referred to as the Center) has announced its participation in BIOPLUS-INTERPHEX KOREA 2024 (BIX 2024), to be held from July 10th to 12th at COEX in Gangnam, Seoul.At BIX 2024, PCMO will promote its core CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) services and showcase advanced technologies in vaccine and biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Particularly, the PCMO will unveil plans for the mRNA vaccine and biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility scheduled to operate from 2025, attracting global biotech industry attention.Since its establishment, PCMO has been supporting domestic companies in their global ventures and promoting the vaccine industry. Located in the Hwasun Vaccine Industry Special Zone, the PCMO has successfully completed 100 projects. Besides CDMO services, it provides support to mRNA vaccine companies and offers tailored on-site training services with the backing of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy and Jeollanam-do Province.At the PCMO booth, visitors can receive consultations on various CDMO services, including microbial-based manufacturing, process development, formulation research, and cell bank manufacturing, in capacities of 50L, 200L, and 1,000L. Additionally, the PCMO aims to contribute to the development of the domestic bio industry through networking with industry stakeholders.▲ PCMO Booth Location GuideBIX 2024, co-hosted by the Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization and Reed Exhibitions Korea (RX Korea), will feature participation from 250 companies across 15 countries. The event will showcase diverse fields, including manufacturing and facilities, biotechnology, laboratory equipment and analysis, raw materials (pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics), cold chain logistics and packaging, services (clinical, preclinical, consulting), digital healthcare, and hospitals, universities, and public institutions.Key side events include company presentations on the Open Innovation Stage, partnering matches, a startup awards ceremony, and a global IR session with domestic and international venture capitalists (VCs). These activities are designed to provide opportunities for Korean bio companies to enter overseas markets and offer insights for building a global network.

[Press Release] PCMO participates in WHO Global Training Hub Mini Convention

-June 11, Seoul National University Siheung Campus with SK Bioscience, Thermo Fisher, ST Pharm, and other companies▲PCMO PT sessionPCMO (Director: Min Cho, hereafter referred to as the Center) announced on the 12th that it promoted its CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) and workforce training programs to 175 representatives from vaccine-related companies and institutions from 49 countries at the WHO (World Health Organization) Global Training Hub - BIO(GTH-B) Mini Convention, organized by the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) at Seoul National University Siheung Campus.The WHO Global Training Hub - BIO program, established in 2022 through collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Welfare and WHO, is now in its third year of operation. It was initiated to enhance global vaccine and biopharmaceutical production capabilities in response to COVID-19. Through this program, 175 participants from government agencies and companies related to vaccines from 49 countries received comprehensive training, including the entire vaccine production cycle theory, discussions and case studies, and site visits to domestic companies from June 3 for two weeks at Seoul National University Siheung Campus.The Mini Convention was organized to introduce domestic companies that could not be visited due to schedule and distance constraints and to broaden the perspectives of the trainees. The event was a great success with participation from domestic companies such as SK Bioscience, Thermo Fisher Scientific, ST Pharm, Beyondcell, and institutions like the Korea Biomedicine Industry Association, including the Center.▲PCMO Poster PT sessionAt the Mini Convention presentation session, the Center introduced its CDMO services, including microbial-based manufacturing at scales of 50L, 200L, and 1,000L, process development, formulation research, and cell bank manufacturing. Additionally, the Center announced that it would operate a manufacturing facility for mRNA vaccines and biopharmaceuticals, which have gained attention due to COVID-19, starting in 2025, drawing significant interest from global industry stakeholders.Furthermore, the Center promoted its educational program aimed at training professionals in vaccine and biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Jeollanam-do Province, and Hwasun-gun County, this program aims to produce 900 graduates by 2026, addressing the industry's demand for skilled bio professionals.The relationship between the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and the Center has been ongoing for seven years. Since signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2018 to promote the supply of safe and effective vaccines for infants in developing countries, the two organizations have maintained continuous collaboration. Since the start of the WHO Global Training Hub - BIO program in 2022, the Center has regularly participated in company visits and Mini Convention events.Jinyoung Song, Head of External Relations, who introduced the Center in the presentation session, stated, “It was a meaningful opportunity to showcase the capabilities of the domestic vaccine industry,” and added, “We hope that global biopharmaceutical regulatory officials will recognize the strength of Korea's capabilities.”

[Press Release] PCMO, Commences Construction of Bio Manpower Training Center

- To be established within the Hwasun Vaccine Industry Special Zone in Jeollanamdo...aiming for 900 graduates by 2026 - Received a total of 24 billion won in government funding over four years starting from 2023 for the construction of the training center▲ Manpower Training Center Building RenderingPCMO (Director Min Cho, hereinafter referred to as the Center) announced on the 3rd that it has commenced construction of an educational facility aimed at fostering bio specialized workforce with a target completion date of May 2025 within the Hwaseong Vaccine Industry Special Zone in Jeollanamdo.The facility is designed to have a total floor area of 2,794 ㎡ across two floors above ground, featuring laboratories where students can directly engage in production and quality control testing, as well as residential facilities (including dormitories) for medium- to long-term training lasting more than two weeks. A total of 24 billion won in funding, supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Jeollanamdo, is planned to be invested.The Center aims to produce a total of 900 graduates by 2026 through internal facilities and education utilizing VR (Virtual Reality), aiming to address the shortage of field personnel demanded by the recent government and bio industries.According to feedback from graduates of the Center's education programs, they expressed satisfaction in gaining relative merits in job seeking activities through firsthand experiences, practical know-how, and field experiences that cannot be learned in school. Among the students who completed their education in 2023, some have reported being employed in various bio companies, with expectations for an increase in employment rates of graduates starting from this year as the business becomes more active.This project is based on the trust built by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Jeollanamdo, stemming from achievements in projects such as the establishment of PCMO as part of the Vaccine Global Industry Establishment Project since 2017 and the production of COVID-19 clinical trial samples. Additionally, the Center is actively engaged in operations such as signing agreements with companies like Samsung Biologics and Celltrion to achieve the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's 'Bio-Manufacturing Innovation Strategy'. With the bio industry being evaluated as one of the future growth engines, the Center's future activities are highly anticipated.

[Press Release] PCMO, Participating in MOTIE's 'Bio-Manufacturing Innovation Strategy'...

- MOUs signed for bio small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) support... Actively supporting demand-supply companies - Participating in the advancement of the ecosystem of the biopharmaceutical industry from talent cultivation to production innovationPCMO (Director Min Cho, hereinafter referred to as the Center) announced that it has signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with 10 companies and organizations, including Samsung Biologics, Celltrion, the Bio Industry Association, and the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, to achieve the 'Bio-Manufacturing Innovation Strategy' announced by the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Resources (Ministry of Industry) on April 1st.The content of the agreement focuses on forming a consensus body to activate the bio SME (materials, parts, equipment) industry. To achieve this, they plan to collaborate on diversified cooperation such as research and development (R&D), commercialization, market entry, talent cultivation, etc., as well as to establish a foundation for securing a track record of bio SMEs and entering the global market, and to support customized production performance evaluation according to demand.This agreement includes a total of 10 companies and institutions, including KoreaBIO, KEIT(Korea Planning & Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology), Celltrion, Samsung Biologics, Samsung Bioepis, KRIBB(Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology), KBIOHealth(Osong Medical Innovation Foundation), Yonsei University K-NIBRT, Andong K-Bio CMO center, and PCMO. Through this consensus body, they plan to contribute to the activation of the bio SME (materials, parts, equipment) industry, which is essential for the formation of a biopharmaceutical manufacturing hub.In the announcement, the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Resources stated that it will attract 17.7 trillion won of private investment in the domestic biopharmaceutical and bio SME industries by 2030 to establish the world's leading biopharmaceutical manufacturing hub. For this purpose, they emphasized support for companies such as manufacturing and process development utilizing PCMO and K-Bio CMO center located in Hwasun and Andong.Furthermore, they highlighted practical training utilizing the center facilities as a means to foster bio talent necessary for establishing a global production hub. They plan to establish process training facilities through the educational facilities under construction in Hwasun and Andong and the Yonsei University K-NIBRT to provide field-specific professional training by providing industrial field experiences.In addition, the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Resources decided to proceed with the pre-feasibility study for the establishment of the Korean version of the Bio Manufacturing Innovation Platform (BioMADE) to advance advanced bio-production processes. They plan to collaborate with international institutions through linkage with public bio foundries to advance and commercialize production processes.Meanwhile, PCMO has been conducting the 'mRNA Vaccine Verification Support Base Construction Project' with the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Resources and Jeollanam-do Province since 2022. Along with the completion of the mRNA manufacturing facility in 2025, they plan to provide full-fledged mRNA production services and have already been involved in mRNA-related tasks such as producing clinical samples for COVID-19. They intend to contribute to the development of the bio industry by combining the Ministry of Industry's 'Bio-Manufacturing Innovation Strategy' with existing projects.

[Press Release] PCMO and Honam University sign MOU... aiming to foster bio-industry talent

- Agreement signed to foster talent in the bio-industry... intending to continue cooperation to provide practical experience▲A commemorative photograph featuring officials from Honam University and the Microbial Verification Support CenterPCMO (Director Min Jo) and the Clinical Pathology Department of Honam University (President Sang-Cheol Park) announced on April 5th the signing of a business agreement (MOU) with the goal of promoting the bio-industry and fostering specialized manpower.The agreement focuses on sharing information in the biopharmaceutical industry in which both institutions are involved and fostering specialized manpower tailored to the demands of the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. To achieve this, the two institutions plan to actively cooperate on industry trends and information sharing, joint utilization of research and education infrastructure, development and operation of internship programs to enhance practical skills, and collaborative research related to the "30 Glocal Universities" project.The event for the signing of the business cooperation agreement was attended by key figures including President Sang-Cheol Park of Honam University, the Dean of the College of Health Sciences, the Director of the Industry-Academia Cooperation Division, the Director of the Start-up Support Team, as well as Yu-Ji Jang, the head of the Clinical Pathology Department, and Min Jo, the Director of PCMO.▲Center Director Min Jo and President Sang-Cheol Park introducing the center's facilitiesGovernment officials have shown high interest in fostering bio-talent for quite some time. Jeollanam-do and Hwasun-gun have been strengthening collaboration between academia and industry within the Hwasun Vaccine Industry Special Zone, centered around the Jeollanam-do Bio-Industry Promotion Institute, to establish a "WHO Global Bio-Campus." This business agreement between Honam University and the center can also be seen as part of the efforts to establish the bio-campus.The focal point of this agreement, the Clinical Pathology Department of Honam University, was established in 2021 and has already been actively involved, achieving notable successes such as winning the top award at the "Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology Student Forum" and presenting research on kimchi probiotics for obesity prevention. Additionally, the curriculum offers significant merits for acquiring essential knowledge in clinical trials related to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.PCMO was established in 2017 through the "Vaccine Global Industrialization Base Establishment Project" by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Jeollanam-do, and has been actively operating, including producing samples for COVID-19 clinical trials. Its services include contract development and manufacturing (CDMO), production of cell banks (MCB/WCB), and process development to support companies.Recently, the center has been conducting the "Vaccine Industry Specialized Manpower Development Project" commissioned by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Jeollanam-do from 2023 onwards to foster talent tailored to the needs of the bio-industry. It plans to graduate over 100 education participants by the end of this year and aims to complete construction of an education and dormitory facility by 2025 to operate formal education programs.