General Director of VinBioCare: We are racing every day for Vietnam to be self-sufficient in vaccines with new technology

Ms. Le Ngoc Chi, General Director of VinBioCare shared about the plan to produce VBC-COV19-154 vaccine against Covid-19 “Made in Vietnam” which is attracting the attention of the community.

New technology increases efficiency 30 times

Vingroup has just announced that through its member company, VinBioCare, signed a contract with Arcturus of the US to transfer technology to produce vaccines against Covid-19. Who is this partner, ma’am?

Our partner is Arcturus Biotechnology Joint Stock Company (Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.), USA. This company is famous for operating in the field of biotechnology with the treatment of serious and infectious diseases based on mRNA technology. This is an advanced technology being used with a number of Covid-19 vaccines around the world. With this product from Arcturus, our vaccine takes an important step forward with next-generation technology.

– Specifically, what are the advantages compared to other vaccines on the market, ma’am?

Acturus research and develop vaccines using saRNA (self-amplifying mRNA) technology, allowing RNA molecules to self-replicate and synthesize antigenic proteins. The “army” of antigenic proteins generated will be 30 times larger than conventional mRNA technology, meaning it can be used at low doses but creates prolonged immune stimulation. In addition, the vaccine applies LUNAR (Lipid-enabled and Unlocked Nucleomonomer Agent modified RNA) technology, which is a lipid-mediated transport system to encapsulate nucleic acids and safely enter cells. LUNAR nano lipids are sensitive to pH and will automatically decompose after entering cells, so they do not cause lipid accumulation in the human body, affecting health.

In particular, experimental research shows that this vaccine is capable of fighting against current dangerous strains such as Delta (India), Alpha (UK), Beta (South Africa), Gamma (Brazil).

– Will new technology come with stricter conditions of use, ma’am, because currently, many vaccines are required to be preserved and transported by “super cold” storage, which is not easy to meet?

This is also one of the advantages of the vaccine generation that will be produced in Vietnam. Freeze-drying technology used in the production process will enable the product to be transported and stored at a much higher temperature than most current vaccines (some current vaccines are required to be protected). stored in conditions of deep negative temperatures from -80°C to -70°C). Thanks to that, we will optimize transportation costs and speed up the vaccination campaign, especially in areas with difficult conditions.

-Has the technology actually taken shape and if so, when can the product be used in Vietnam?

There is very good news that I would like to share that the Ministry of Health has approved the clinical trial protocol of this vaccine (the product used for the trial is made in Germany because our factory is being urgently developed). installation declaration).

Currently, with the close support and guidance of the Ministry of Health, we are starting clinical trials on 21,000 people. After receiving satisfactory results (expected to be completed in December 2021), we will submit an application to the Ministry of Health for a conditional emergency use license for this vaccine in Vietnam.

“Bag” of a special plane to have the vaccine as soon as possible for the people

– Regarding the plan to build the factory, how is everything currently being implemented, ma’am?

The factory will be located at the VinSmart Electronic Equipment Factory Complex in Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park (Thach That, Hanoi); built according to GMP standards with a capacity of 200 million doses/year. We will urgently implement the construction with the advice of Rieckermann (Germany) – one of the largest and most prestigious consulting units in the world in providing pharmaceutical solutions.

– Producing biomedical products requires extremely complex and time-consuming equipment. People will have to wait a long time while the epidemic situation is stressful, madam?

We understand the situation and in fact, the whole machine is racing every day and every hour. According to the original plan of the partner, at the earliest, in June 2023, the first batch of commercial scale will be shipped.

However, in the context of the increasingly complicated situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, we and our partners have considered carefully each step, looking for the best solutions to shorten the project completion time quickly. As possible, for example, instead of transporting equipment by water like normal transactions, we decided to hire a full package of aircraft to bring the production line to Vietnam as quickly as possible.

Along with many other solutions, it is expected that the first commercial vaccine batch can be born in March 2022, 18 months earlier than the original plan expected by the partner and still ensure quality compliance. in accordance with the highest international standards and regulations of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam

This approach takes more resources, but at the moment, nothing is more important than the goal of serving and protecting public health, and soon having a vaccine for people.

The world supply of vaccines is less scarce, but Vingroup still invests in a factory with a capacity of 200 million doses per year. Did Vingroup see the potential for super profits from this vaccine?

The core goal of the establishment of VinBioCare is to contribute to accompanying the Government to self-control the source of vaccines for the Vietnamese people. Therefore, we guarantee to provide the Covid-19 vaccine to the people at a non-profit price, including only the production cost.

Secondly, although the source of vaccines to Vietnam has been increased, self-production will have a better price, ensuring vaccine universalization for the people. Vaccines manufactured by VinBioCare are expected to be cheaper than products in the same segment being offered on the market. Moreover, if we cannot proactively source vaccines, it will be difficult for us to be proactive in the long-term forecasted war.

In the future, VinBioCare can negotiate with partners, aiming for export to be able to share the burden of disease and repel the Covid-19 epidemic with other countries around the world.

– The last question, Why is Vingroup spending such a large amount of money in this difficult period?

– In the past, when there was an enemy, our forefathers left the family, gave up all the housework despite the danger and hardship to go to fight the enemy. We are now just following the old man’s example, but only partially “imitating”.

– Thank you ma’am!