Moderna has signed a manufacturing services and supply agreement with Samsung Biologics under which the latter will undertake large scale, commercial fill-finish manufacturing for the mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine.

According to Samsung Biologics, technology transfer will begin immediately at the company’s facilities in Incheon, South Korea.

The South Korean CDMO will use a production line equipped for aseptic fill-finish, labeling, and packaging services for supporting the production of hundreds of millions of doses of the mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine.

John Rim – CEO of Samsung Biologics said: “This vaccine is paramount to people around the world in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and we truly appreciate our client Moderna for entrusting and choosing to partner with Samsung Biologics for the fill and finish of this important vaccine.

“Due to the high level of urgency in supplying the vaccine to the global population, we have set immediate action plans and schedule to make mRNA-1273 available for commercial distribution in the early second half of 2021.”

The vaccine doses to be manufactured by Samsung Biologics are planned to be supplied to markets outside of the US beginning from Q3 2021.

Juan Andres – Moderna Chief Technical Operations and Quality Officer said: “We are pleased to partner with Samsung Biologics for this fill and finish manufacturing, which will help us continue to scale up our manufacturing capacity outside of the U.S.

“We and our manufacturing partners remain committed to defeating the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The messenger RNA (mRNA) Covid-19 vaccine from Moderna was granted emergency use authorization by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2020.

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