Samsung Electronics Co. Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee demonstrated his muscle in the global scene during his overseas trip in the United States upon parole in August, meeting top executives of Moderna and Verizon and senior U.S. officials.

According to Samsung Electronics on Thursday, Lee met with Noubar Afeyan, co-founder of Moderna, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Tuesday (local time) at Flagship Pioneering headquarters.

Afeyan set up bio investment company Flagship Pioneering in 1999 and has invested in more than 100 bio firms including Moderna.

The two reportedly have discussed partnership expansion between Samsung Biologics consigned with Covid-19 vaccine for Moderna with the vaccine maker.

Samsung Biologics has been packing Moderna’s mRNA vaccines since August following the two companies’ production contract in May. Lee is projected to have tapped the chance of producing mRNA vaccine raw material from Samsung’s bioreactors.

Samsung Biologics and Moderna signed a Covid-19 vaccine drug product (DP) manufacturing deal, under which the Korean CDMO only packages Moderna vaccine in a complete product. Currently, Switzerland’s Lonza Pharma & Biotech is responsible for the drug substance for Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine.

The Korean firm plans to expand its mRNA vaccine raw material production facility in Songdo, Incheon, by the first half of next year.

On the following day, the de factor leader of Samsung Group visited Verizon headquarters in New Jersey and met with key executives including his long-time business ally Hans Vestberg, chairman and chief executive of Verizon Communications.

Samsung Electronics and Verizon have been engaged telecommunications business. Last year, Samsung Electronics signed a 7.9 trillion won deal with Verizon to supply network solutions including 5G mobile communications equipment. The two are expected to sustain partnership for 6G and beyond.

Lee has flown to Washington D.C. to meet with senior officials in the Joe Biden government ahead of administrating $17 billion foundry investment in the U.S.

By Lee Seung-hoon and Lee Eun-joo

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]