LG Chem-EuBiologics will locally manufacture vaccines

Signs agreement to contract manufacture undiluted solutions of acellular pertussis vaccines that had been fully dependent on imports

LG Chem will transfer the manufacturing process and testing method to EuBiologics …will further invest in EuBiologics facilities to meet GMP

Heuisul Park, Head of LG Chem’s Specialty Care Business Unit (left) and Yeong-Ok Baik, CEO of EuBiologics (right) are posing for a photo to commemorate the signing of a CMO agreement

LG Chem is joining hands with EuBiologics to speed up the development of pediatric combination vaccines that are being fully imported.

 

LG Chem announced today that it has signed an agreement with EuBiologics to outsource the production of 'acellular Pertussis (aP)', the main antigen used for its hexavalent combination vaccine 'LR20062.’ LR20062 is being developed as a vaccine to prevent 6 infectious diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, meningitis, and hepatitis B.

 

Compared to the pentavalent (diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-polio-meningitis) vaccine commonly used in Korea, the hexavalent vaccine can be administered twice less.

 

Under the agreement, LG Chem will provide aP strains to Eubiologics, and transfer the technology for the manufacturing process and testing methods.

 

Eubiologics will supply the pertussis solutions to LG Chem, starting from those for LG Chem’s Phase III clinical trials.

 

LG Chem will further invest in EuBiologics to build a GMP-certified facility to secure long-term supply.

 

After commercialization, LG Chem expects to receive up to 20 million doses per year.

 

Currently, LG Chem has completed a Phase I trial for ‘LR20062’ and expects to enter Phase II trials within the year.

 

The Phase I trial confirmed LR20062’s comparable safety and immunogenicity to the existing hexavalent conjugate vaccine that the company has selected as a comparator.

 

LG Chem explained, “We signed a CDMO agreement with EuBiologics to establish a stable domestic supply chain through timely development of combined vaccines in a situation where differentiated supply strategies overseas manufacturers implement in each country and stock shortage issues have an absolute impact on the supply of vaccines in Korea.” In fact, there is only one multinational pharmaceutical company that supplies hexavalent vaccines in Korea.

 

Due to this, there has been a growing need for additional suppliers to meet the mid- to long-term demand.

 

Based on the collaboration, LG Chem plans to commercialize LR20062 in Korea in 2030.

 

Heuisul Park, Head of LG Chem’s Specialty Care Business Unit, said, “We plan to accelerate clinical development through close cooperation with EuBiologics, a leading domestic vaccine company.

 

Amid rising concerns about vaccine shortage in Korea, we plan to actively contribute to creating an environment where our children can stably receive essential vaccines.”