Hanmi Fine Chemical has announced its participation in the development of a peptide-based Mpox (monkeypox) vaccine led by the International Vaccine Institute (IVI).
A specialist in active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), Hanmi Fine Chemical, a member of the Hanmi Group, recently signed a tripartite agreement with biotech firm EdJenBioTech LLC and IVI to collaborate on the development and production of a novel Mpox vaccine aimed at responding to emerging infectious diseases. The agreement was officially announced on June 24.
This collaboration leverages the individual expertise of each organization, aiming to jointly advance all stages of vaccine development—from research and development (R&D) to manufacturing, quality control, and global distribution—in an integrated manner.
Monkeypox, caused by the monkeypox virus, manifests with symptoms such as fever, rashes, and swollen lymph nodes, and can spread from person to person. Recently, it has spread worldwide, posing an international public health threat. Securing an effective and safe vaccine against Mpox has thus become a critical priority in global health efforts.
Hanmi Fine Chemical's GMP-certified peptide production technology, EdJenBioTech’s innovative vaccine platform, and IVI’s comprehensive vaccine development capacity and global health expertise will be combined to accelerate the development and production of the next-generation Mpox vaccine.
Under the agreement, Hanmi Fine Chemical will take the lead in the production of peptide candidates, focusing on process development, optimization, and quality assurance, establishing a robust foundation for the vaccine’s entry into global markets through strict manufacturing standards and regulatory compliance.
EdJenBioTech, a biotech company specializing in peptide vaccines, has been working with IVI and Mayo Clinic to develop solutions for infectious diseases using its proprietary platform technology.
Guillaume Leroy, CEO of EdJenBioTech, stated, “This collaboration demonstrates our joint commitment to addressing major public health challenges through science, technology, and manufacturing. We expect each organization’s strengths to generate synergistic benefits.”
The International Vaccine Institute, under the United Nations, was founded to supply safe and effective vaccines to low-income and developing countries.
Jerome H. Kim, IVI’s Secretary-General, expressed enthusiasm, saying, “Through collaboration with EdJenBioTech and Hanmi Fine Chemical, we aim to seamlessly integrate expertise across all phases—vaccine research, process development, and regulatory approval—and lead innovation in global health technology to benefit more people.”
Park Chul-Hyun, Executive Director of Hanmi Fine Chemical’s Business Division, added, “This agreement marks an important milestone in utilizing our GMP-based peptide manufacturing and quality control capabilities to directly contribute to global infectious disease responses. We will continue to responsibly partner in vaccine development, ensuring safety and quality throughout the process from process optimization to commercialization.”
