The government is accelerating technology development and support to achieve its goal of localizing COVID-19 mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccines by 2028.

The plan is to prepare for highly likely future infectious diseases such as avian influenza (AI), Nipah, and hantavirus in addition to COVID-19 by securing a domestic mRNA vaccine platform.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) today (the 13th), GC Biopharma and Korea BMI, among others, are currently developing COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in South Korea with government support.

The KDCA assesses that securing mRNA vaccine platform technology will be key to responding to future pandemics.

While mRNA vaccines are difficult to develop, once foundational technologies such as mRNA synthesis, modification, and delivery are secured, new vaccines can be rapidly produced simply by swapping out the genetic information of the virus.

mRNA vaccines are manufactured using mRNA containing the genetic information of a virus.

This method builds immunity by injecting mRNA that prompts body cells to display spike proteins identical to those of the virus on their surfaces.

Here, mRNA acts as a kind of messenger that teaches cells how to build the exact same spikes as the virus.

The COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are representative mRNA vaccines.

Because they utilize genetic information, their manufacturing process is relatively short compared to conventional vaccines, making them advantageous for rapidly responding to sudden pandemics or viral mutations.

The KDCA's announcement that it will establish a system capable of developing vaccines within 200 days during an infectious disease crisis also takes into consideration these characteristics of mRNA vaccines.

In addition to COVID-19, the KDCA has selected avian influenza (AI), Nipah virus, and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome as high-priority infectious diseases for vaccine development and is supporting clinical trials.

Avian influenza and Nipah virus vaccines are currently in the preclinical stage, with entry into phase 1 clinical trials expected next year.

Hantavirus, which causes hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, is under development with a target to enter phase 1 clinical trials around 2028.

While there is an approved hantavirus vaccine in South Korea, it is an inactivated vaccine approved in 1990 and is evaluated as having limitations in terms of prolonged immunity duration.

Accordingly, the KDCA plans to commercialize a next-generation hantavirus vaccine utilizing mRNA platform technology.

The KDCA views the probability of success for localizing mRNA vaccines as high and expects South Korea to become a nation possessing its own technology following major countries.

(Photo provided by KDCA, Yonhap News)