Fusion of Cha Vaccine Research Institute’s immune-enhancing platform technology and SML Biopharm’s mRNA·LNP technology — upgrading existing mRNA pipelines and creating new ones…expanding into cancer vaccines and beyond
Cha Vaccine Research Institute and SML Biopharm announced on the 8th that they have signed a comprehensive memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly develop messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-based vaccines and therapeutics.
Under the agreement, the two parties will combine Cha Vaccine Research Institute’s immune-enhancing platform and vaccine candidate development experience with SML Biopharm’s differentiated mRNA and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platform technologies to accelerate development of next-generation vaccines and immunotherapies. They plan to establish an end-to-end joint development framework from candidate discovery to formulation, preclinical studies, and clinical trials, and continue developing innovative vaccines and therapeutics with global competitiveness.
The partners will allocate roles to rapidly generate innovative candidates and build an efficient development model that leads to commercialization. They also plan to expand beyond infectious disease vaccines into therapeutic areas such as cancer vaccines to address unmet medical needs and secure global market competitiveness.
Specifically, SML Biopharm will provide ▲mRNA sequence design ▲optimization technologies for core mRNA components such as UTR and Poly(A) ▲a high-efficiency, low-toxicity LNP delivery platform. Based on this, Cha Vaccine Research Institute will lead ▲vaccine antigen discovery ▲validation of immunological efficacy ▲and the establishment and execution of preclinical and clinical development strategies.
Through this MOU, Cha Vaccine Research Institute plans not only to create new pipelines but also to introduce new technologies into its existing mRNA-based pipelines. The institute is currently developing preventive and therapeutic vaccines targeting various infectious diseases, including chronic hepatitis B and shingles, and immuno-oncology therapies based on its proprietary immune-enhancing platforms “El-Pampo” and “Lipo-Pampo.”
Han Seong-il, CEO of Cha Vaccine Research Institute, said, “Together with SML Biopharm, which has the technical capabilities to develop domestically originated mRNA vaccines such as the country’s first personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, we will create an important turning point to expand from infectious disease vaccines into therapeutic areas including cancer vaccines. We will contribute to addressing unmet medical needs and to the advancement of Korea’s bio ecosystem.”
Nam Jae-hwan, CEO of SML Biopharm, said, “By combining Cha Vaccine Research Institute’s outstanding immune-enhancing platform technology, we will create differentiated vaccines and therapeutics. Through our collaboration, we will accelerate the development of next-generation pipelines with global competitiveness.”
MoneyToday reporter Seon-a Kim (https://news.mt.co.kr/mtview.php?no=2025090808461957031)
