Russia's COVID-19 Inactivated Vaccine 'Covivac', Discussions on Production in Korea

Chumakov Institute of Life Sciences Developers, On-site Inspection at Andong Animal Cell Validation Support Center

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] Russia's Chumakov Institute of Life Sciences, which independently developed the COVID-19 vaccine 'Covivac' that entered Phase 3 clinical trials earlier this month, is expected to have the vaccine contract-manufactured in Korea.

Starting their visit to Korea on the 12th, the top research and development executives of the Chumakov Institute of Life Sciences reportedly conducted an on-site inspection on the 17th at the Animal Cell Demonstration Support Center under the Vaccine Global Industrialization Infrastructure Project Group, affiliated with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, located in Andong.

According to related industry sources, during the schedule on that day, substantive contract discussions took place between the top developers, including Aidar Ishmukhametov, director of the Chumakov Institute of Life Sciences, and the Andong Animal Cell Demonstration Support Center regarding technology transfer for the main production of the 'Covivac' vaccine.

The Chumakov Institute stated that since the Covivac vaccine is currently undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials involving 32,000 participants in Russia, they plan to establish a vaccine supply system foundation in Korea during this visit period for contract manufacturing and global market distribution.

Covivac was developed using the inactivated vaccine method, familiar to us through vaccines such as influenza and hepatitis A vaccines. Unlike currently developed COVID-19 vaccines, the inactivated method is a classical vaccine platform that removes the virus but maintains immunogenicity before being injected into the body.

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