Thailand’s Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) has entered into a collaboration with a South Korean biopharmaceutical company to enhance the manufacturing of influenza vaccines in the country.
Through a Memorandum of Understanding, the GPO and South Korea’s SK Bioscience will work together to develop a new technology for producing influenza vaccines using a cell-based technique. This advanced method, known as cell culture, involves growing flu viruses in cultured cells instead of relying on traditional egg-based production.
Dr. Mingkwan Suphannaphong, Managing Director of the GPO, explained that this partnership will involve SK Bioscience sharing its expertise in the bottling process for future vaccines with the GPO. SK Bioscience specializes in manufacturing pre-filled, ready-to-use influenza vaccines that target 3 or 4 strains of the virus.
In the second phase of the collaboration, the GPO aims to acquire the knowledge and capabilities to independently produce flu shots using the new cell-based technique.
The introduction of this innovative product is anticipated in Thailand next year, while domestically manufactured vaccines are expected to be available within two years. Additionally, the GPO and SK Bioscience have plans to jointly develop several other vaccines, including those for PPV (Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine) and shingles.
