Attracting DNA Vaccine R&D and Manufacturing Facility to Songdo, Incheon... Completion in 2023

Indonesian Major Pharmaceutical Company Jointly Invests in Genexine Subsidiary

Incheon Free Economic Zone Songdo International City
[Photo by Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] A DNA vaccine research and manufacturing facility will be established in Songdo International City, Incheon Free Economic Zone.

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority signed a land sale contract with SL Pogen on the 24th to build a DNA vaccine research and manufacturing facility.

SL Pogen is a subsidiary of Genexine, a domestic biotechnology company, and is entrusted with the research, development, and manufacturing of DNA vaccines developed both domestically and internationally, including Genexine's DNA vaccines.

DNA vaccines are vaccines made by artificially replicating parts of the genes of pathogens or viruses, which are injected into muscles to induce an immune response against the pathogens or viruses.

This project was promoted through joint investment by Genexine and Kalbe Farma, a major Indonesian pharmaceutical company, to secure production facilities for DNA vaccines being developed by Genexine.

SL Pogen plans to build a DNA vaccine research, development, and production facility with four above-ground floors and a total floor area of 12,200 square meters on a 10,434 square meter site within the advanced industrial cluster in District 5 of Songdo International City by 2023. The design is currently underway, with construction scheduled to begin in the first half of next year.

Of the total project cost of 48 billion KRW, the foreign investor Kalbe will invest approximately 10 million USD (about 11 billion KRW).

Genexine's COVID-19 preventive DNA vaccine, which is under development, was the first project supported by the Ministry of Health and Welfare's 'COVID-19 Vaccine Development Support' and received approval for Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials in Indonesia last month.

Genexine is a leading domestic new drug development company promoting joint development and technology transfer of next-generation new drugs such as antibody fusion proteins and DNA vaccines with world-renowned companies. In particular, Genexine's DNA vaccine technology is recognized at a global level, and it is jointly developing a cervical cancer DNA therapeutic vaccine with the U.S. pharmaceutical company Merck.

Lee Won-jae, head of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, stated, "SL Pogen is a company with world-class DNA vaccine process development and production capabilities, proving that Songdo is a hub for next-generation biopharmaceuticals. We will do our best to create infrastructure and networking so that bio companies located in Songdo, including SL Pogen, can achieve the best results."

Songdo International City currently houses more than 60 bio and healthcare research, manufacturing, and service companies, including Samsung Biologics, which is contract manufacturing the Moderna vaccine, and has the world's largest biopharmaceutical production capacity for a single city.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.