Global Bio Leaders Gathered in Korea Unite in One Voice: "Next Pandemic Must Be Overcome Through Cooperation"

International Cooperation and Inequality Resolution Essential to Overcome Next Pandemic

Yoon: "Lesson of Solidarity and Cooperation Beyond Borders"
Establishing Innovative R&D Systems, Creating Investment Funds in Bio Sector

SK Bioscience: "Next Pandemic Vaccine Developed Within 100 Days"
Il-dong: "Expecting EUA for Jcovac... Securing In-House Production Capability"

President Yoon Suk-yeol delivers the opening address at the opening ceremony of the 'World Bio Summit 2022' held on the afternoon of the 25th at Grand Walkerhill Seoul in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Chunhee Lee, Youngwon Kim, Seonjin Byun] As the COVID-19 pandemic is winding down, government officials, international organizations, and pharmaceutical and bio industry representatives from around the world gathered in Seoul all voiced the same opinion: to proactively respond to the next pandemic, international cooperation and the elimination of inequality must be achieved.

According to the government on the 26th, the "World Bio Summit 2022," co-hosted by the Korean government and the World Health Organization (WHO), is being held on the 25th and 26th at the Grand Walkerhill Seoul in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. All attendees agreed that the next pandemic must be quickly overcome through pre-established collaborative capabilities and an equitable resource distribution system.

In his opening remarks the day before, President Yoon Suk-yeol stated, "To prepare for another infectious disease crisis and health crisis, we must all reflect on the lesson of solidarity and cooperation beyond borders," emphasizing, "The international community must ensure equitable access to essential medicines such as vaccines and work together to strengthen infectious disease response capabilities." He also expressed his willingness to provide support. President Yoon said, "We will establish an innovative research and development system for diseases humanity has yet to solve, such as new infectious diseases and rare incurable diseases, and create a bio-sector investment fund to strengthen financial support," adding, "To this end, we will closely cooperate with governments, international organizations, and global companies."

Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyoo-hong delivers a congratulatory speech at the 'World Bio Summit 2022' held on the 26th at Grand Walkerhill Seoul in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Kim Young-won

Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong also said in his congratulatory speech that day, "We take the importance of international cooperation in responding to COVID-19 very seriously," and added, "Vaccine and drug development require excellent research personnel and substantial research funding, so due to high barriers, collaboration must be achieved through well-coordinated research cooperation on a global scale."

Similar voices came from international organizations. Richard Hatchett, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), expressed his ambition the day before to develop a vaccine within 100 days when the next pandemic strikes for rapid response. He emphasized, "To develop a vaccine within 100 days, we must have a common agenda to save the world from future pandemics and be able to support equitable vaccine distribution." Jerome Kim, Director-General of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), also suggested, "A global pandemic is not something you protect yourself from alone; it requires cooperation like an orchestra. Since 77% of people in low-income countries have never received even a single vaccine dose, it is not enough to just develop vaccines; a vaccination system must be established."

On the afternoon of the 25th, at the Grand Walkerhill Seoul in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, during the 'Future Strategies for the Post-Pandemic' session held at the 'World Bio Summit 2022,' Jerome Kim, Director General of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), Janine Small, Global President of Pfizer Advanced Markets, Ahn Jae-yong, CEO of SK Bioscience, Jan van Acker, President of MSD (Merck & Co., USA) Emerging Markets, Isao Teshirogi, CEO of Shionogi, Yoon Woong-seop, CEO of Ildong Pharmaceutical, Mita Giuliani, Executive Vice President of Strategic Business Development at Merck Life Science, Petro Teblanche, CEO of Afrigen, and Morena Markhoana, CEO of Biovac (from left), are conducting a discussion. / Photo by Lee Chun-hee

Domestic companies presented a vision for actively securing additional research and development (R&D) capabilities. Ahn Jae-yong, CEO of SK Bioscience, expressed agreement with CEPI’s 100-day strategy, saying, "Based on three strategies?securing innovative technology platforms, infrastructure, and leading clinical and regulatory processes?we will develop the next pandemic vaccine within 100 days." To this end, SK Bioscience signed an agreement with CEPI the day before to develop messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines. CEO Ahn evaluated this as "meaningful," adding, "To respond efficiently when a pandemic breaks out, efforts to secure innovative technologies such as mRNA technology are necessary."

Yoon Woong-seop, Vice Chairman of Ildong Pharmaceutical, stated, "Ildong aims to become an R&D-centered pharmaceutical company, investing 19% of sales in R&D even during the COVID-19 situation." Regarding the oral COVID-19 treatment "Zocova," jointly developed with Japan’s Shionogi Pharmaceutical, he said, "We hope for emergency use authorization (EUA) in both Japan and Korea," and added, "Through a partnership agreement with Shionogi, we have also secured the capability to manufacture it in Korea."

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