GC said it has signed a contract manufacturing organization (CMO) contract for Euvichol, an oral cholera vaccine developed by EuBiologics Co.

Under the agreement, GC will be responsible for the contract manufacturing of the finished drug product (DP) of Euvichol until 2026. The two companies also set the initial size of the contract at 15 million doses.

Euvichol is an oral cholera vaccine co-developed by EuBiologics and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), and it is currently responsible for 100 percent of UNICEF's cholera vaccine supply.

GC expects that this contract will allow them to join in responding to global public health crises with EuBiologics while also looking to expand its CMO business.

The integrated finished DP facility located in Ochang, North Chungcheong Province, can produce vaccines, biosimilars, antibody drugs, and mRNA.

The facility is equipped with the latest technology, including an aseptic filling system, and has the largest production capacity in Korea, with up to 1 billion doses.

"With the increase in cholera outbreaks due to climate change and wars around the world, there is a situation where vaccine supply cannot keep up with demand," EuBiologics CEO Baik Yeong-ok said. "Through this CMO agreement with GC, we will be able to supply additional vaccines to UNICEF."

GC President Huh Eun-chul also said, "Based on the latest facilities and over 50 years of accumulated pharmaceutical production know-how, we already have a global-level CMO foundation."

Through this partnership, GC plans to join in responding to global public health crises and expand its CMO business, Huh added.