Korea University College of Medicine’s Vaccine Innovation Center said Monday it is launching development of a next-generation hantavirus vaccine through a collaborative effort involving the private sector, government, academia, and research institutes. The center is the only private vaccine R&D institute in South Korea established to continue the research legacy of late scientist Ho Wang Lee, who first discovered the hantavirus.
The center said it has been selected as the lead research organization for a hantavirus vaccine development project commissioned by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The initiative is part of a national strategic program aimed at building a system capable of rapidly developing vaccine prototypes within 200 days of a future pandemic outbreak.
The center will oversee the overall project, with biotech companies MediciBio and EyeGene participating as partners. The KDCA and related organizations are expected to provide about $1.9 million in research funding over two years for the vaccine development effort.
The project aims to develop a domestically based next-generation mRNA hantavirus vaccine. Researchers plan to establish an mRNA vaccine platform free from concerns over overseas patent infringement by utilizing self-amplifying mRNA (sa-mRNA) and next-generation high-efficiency lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology.
Over the past two years, the center has collaborated with Moderna on research into the infection-prevention effects of mRNA hantavirus vaccine candidates. Preclinical studies showed significantly reduced viral levels in the lungs and kidneys of vaccinated mice, confirming strong immune response effects. Based on those findings, the center is now moving forward with development of a new mRNA platform vaccine.
The new project will be conducted over two years. During the first year, researchers will optimize vaccine candidates and evaluate efficacy. In the second year, the project will move into GMP-compliant manufacturing and safety verification. The effort is expected to help establish an independent domestic foundation for rapid vaccine production during future infectious disease outbreaks.
Jung Hee-jin, head of the center, said pandemic situations represent “complex national crises” and stressed the importance of close cooperation with the government and industry.
“We will devote all our capabilities to helping South Korea advance from being a vaccine-importing country to a vaccine-exporting country and ultimately a nation with bio-sovereignty,” Jung said.
Hantavirus is one of nine priority infectious diseases selected by the government for vaccine development. Interest in vaccine development has grown further following a recent cluster outbreak linked to person-to-person transmission of a variant Andes hantavirus aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius.
The MV Hondius arrived at its home port in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on May 18, 16 days after the outbreak began. The World Health Organization had identified a total of 10 related cases as of May 15, including eight confirmed cases and two suspected cases.