Pharma Bio-Tech Global (PBTG) will be able to start production of Russian-developed coronavirus vaccine CoviVac in South Korea from September after finalizing technology transfer, the Korean-Russian joint venture said on Wednesday.

PBTG established for production and distribution for the vaccine signed a technology transfer agreement with Russia’s Chumakov Research Center in May over manufacturing, testing, and processing of CoviVac. Chumakov, the only state-run Russian research institute registered with the World Health Organization (WHO), has developed vaccines for polio, encephalitis and hepatitis.

Chumakov recently provided PBTG with about 15,000 pages of technology resources, including technical documents and future schedules for production process that encompasses culture, filtration, purification, packaging, and inspection in Korea, said a PBTG official.

According to the plan, Chumakov will dispatch researchers to Korea for about six months to share vaccine manufacturing know-how for local joint production. After the technology transfer is completed, PBTG will be able to perform all processes for vaccine substances and finished products with a production capacity of 550,000 doses per batch.

When production begins in earnest, Kosdaq-listed GW Vitek and its subsidiary will be responsible for procurement of raw materials and marketing of finished products. All vaccines to be produced locally will be shipped to overseas markets.

PBTG already completed the installation of two 1,000-liter bioreactors at a vaccine production base located in Andong, Gyeongbuk, and a trial operation is scheduled for completion by July 20.

By Yang Yeon-ho and Minu Kim

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