Samsung Biologics Co., a biopharmaceutical unit of South Korea’s Samsung Group, has completed the test-production of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine and started commercial production at its Korean plant with a plan to begin supplying vaccines at home and abroad as early as November.

To supply the Moderna vaccine at home, Samsung Biologics is required to obtain the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification and product approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to supply the Moderna vaccine at home.

The company said it has filed an application for GMP certification in September and is expected to obtain the certification within this month as Food and Drug Safety Minister Kim Gang-lip said the ministry is fast-tracking the process. The company is likely to be able to supply the Covid-19 vaccine in November or December.

Samsung Biologics will also have to obtain certification separately from each country’s regulators to supply the vaccine in Europe or Japan.

Samsung Biologics signed a contract manufacturing agreement with the U.S. vaccine developer in May.

By Jung Hee-young and Lee Soo-min

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