Healthcare is at a pivotal moment.  In a pandemic where prevention is crucial, the modern world relies on the mRNA vaccine for the health and safety of humanity. . 

Desperate for a cure, businesses and countries turned to the pharmaceutical industry for answers when it came to battling the COVID-19 virus that caused the death of millions in only a year. Researchers worked tirelessly to take an existing idea that had worked with smaller viruses and in therapies for people with chronic conditions to see if it would work for a virus that attacked so many in so little time. 

While many have questioned the mRNA vaccine, there is no doubt that it works: it is safe, it is effective, and it trains your body to make its own COVID-19 vaccine. While there are a handful of mRNA vaccines that have been found to be effective against the virus, finding vaccines that also work against the COVID-19 variants has proven to be a challenge. 

Other members of the pharmaceutical industry, like contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), have had to assist in the manufacturing and distribution of mRNA vaccines. Leading CDMO Samsung Biologics is providing manufacturing services for Moderna, one of the leading makers of a highly successful COVID-19 vaccine.

In May 2021, Samsung Biologics announced a partnership with vaccine manufacturer Moderna, a biotech startup that created an mRNA vaccine to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Moderna’s Emergency Use Authorized mRNA vaccine has been shown to be effective in lessening the chance of contracting the virus, while also minimizing some of the most fatal side effects in breakthrough instances. 

Reducing the Spread of COVID-19

One of the most recent medical advances, the mRNA vaccine, may help reduce the spread of infectious viruses like COVID-19. It has been shown to be successful in the fight against the virus, providing a means of prevention and reducing the severity of any outbreaks. Messenger RNA vaccines, according to the CDC, train cells to manufacture a protein, which results in an immunological response. Antibodies are produced by the immune response to keep the body from being infected with the virus.

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

Other Uses of mRNA Technology

Previously, mRNA had been studied for use against other viral diseases with great success. Studied before in relation to the flu, the Zika virus, rabies, and cytomegalovirus (CMV), and in the future, mRNA vaccines might be able to provide protection against multiple viruses and diseases. Cancer research has also trained mRNA to trigger the immune system to target and fight against cancer cells. 

Samsung Biologics has continued to prepare for the rise of mRNA vaccines. The company is currently adding mRNA vaccine production capabilities to their service offerings at their Songdo facility, to be ready by the first half of 2022. 

“We are constantly assessing various ways that we can expand and diversify our current business portfolio to better serve the market,” said John Rim, CEO of Samsung Biologics. “We are committed to helping our clients provide quality treatments and vaccines to all those in need around the world, especially in difficult times like this, and with this extended capability, we hope to support our partners in bringing novel mRNA vaccines and therapeutics to market at a faster pace.”