At least two local pharmaceutical companies could possibly produce their own coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines by "end of 2022” under a fill-and-finish vaccine manufacturing arrangements, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said Thursday, April 15.
DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, who leads the Task Group on Vaccine Evaluation and Selection (TG-VES), said out of the six companies that expressed their interest to go into manufacturing of vaccines in the country, two were aggressively pushing their plan to produce coronavirus vaccines.
“Meron kasi kami na nakikita na dalawang companies na medyo ambilis eh, aggressive sila (We are seeing two companies that are pretty fast, they are aggressive), if they pursue what we think are their plans based on what they told us, parang kakayanin nilang magproduce ng vaccines by late 2022 (they could possibly produce vaccines by late 2022),” she said in a media forum hosted by the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday.
She noted that they started talks with the private sector as early as April 2020.
"Based on what we are hearing from the companies, it is possible by the end of 2022, meron sa kanilang makakapagproduce ng vaccines (some of them can produce the vaccines). It is possible, hindi pa talaga namin nafirm up ang timeline nila (we have not yet firmed up their timeline). Based on what they are presenting to us, mukhang possible (it seems possible),” Guevara said.
In March this year, the DOST officials revealed that four local pharmaceutical firms were eyeing to pour in their resources to set up a ‘local vaccine industry’, particularly on a fill-and-finish vaccine manufacturing arrangements.
Guevara explained that the vaccine production under a fill-and-finish vaccine manufacturing arrangements can be completed “in less than two years”.
She explained that fill-and-finish is the last part of the manufacturing process where you put that vaccine in a vial, ampule or single-shot syringe for commercial distribution.
While, the whole process of manufacturing the vaccines, including the production of the bulk antigen, can be done in three years," if you have a big company that has a foreign partner that is already in advanced manufacturing.”
During the forum, Guevara disclosed the profile of the six local firms that were planning to venture into local vaccine manufacturing.
She said one of the firms is "a long-term partner of a Chinese vaccine developer", while one company "has connection with a vaccine developer in Germany."
The DOST official said the other firm has extensive facilities in Asia. “All the vaccines that we need are being manufactured by their prospect foreign partner, these are: rubella, polio, HIV, TB, COVID and other non-COVID-19 vaccines.”
In late March, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez identified the 6 firms. These were Greentech, Glovax Biotech, IG Biotech, New Marketlink, Lloyds Laboratories, and Unilab.
She noted that they started talks with the private sector as early as April 2020.
"Based on what we are hearing from the companies, it is possible by the end of 2022, meron sa kanilang makakapgproduce ng vaccines (some of them can produce the vaccines). It is possible, hindi pa talaga namin nafirm up ang timeline nila (we have not yet firmed up their timeline). Based on what they are presenting to us, muhang possible (it seems possible),” Guevara said.
In March this year, the DOST officials revealed that four local pharmaceutical firms were eyeing to pour in their resources to set up a ‘local vaccine industry’, particularly on a fill-and-finish vaccine manufacturing arrangements.
Guevara explained that the vaccine production under a fill-and-finish vaccine manufacturing arrangements can be completed “in less than two years”.
She explained that fill-and-finish is the last part of the manufacturing process where you put that vaccine in a vial, ampule or single-shot syringe for commercial distribution.
While, the whole process of manufacturing the vaccines, including the production of the bulk antigen, can be done in three years," if you have a big company that has a foreign partner that is already in advanced manufacturing.”
During the forum, Guevara disclosed the profile of the six local firms that were planning to venture into local vaccine manufacturing.
She said one of the firms is "a long-term partner of a Chinese vaccine developer", while one company "has connection with a vaccine developer in Germany."
The DOST official said the other firm has extensive facilities in Asia. “All the vaccines that we need are being manufactured by their prospect foreign partner, these are: rubella, polio, HIV, TB, COVID and other non-COVID-19 vaccines.”
In late March, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez identified the 6 firms. These were Greentech, Glovax Biotech, IG Biotech, New Marketlink, Lloyds Laboratories, and Unilab.