CHA Vaccine Institute, SML Biopharm collaborate for mRNA-based vaccines, therapeutics
CHA Vaccine Institute, an affiliate of CHA Biotech, has entered into a comprehensive memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SML Biopharm to jointly develop mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics.
Under the agreement, the two companies will integrate CHA Vaccine Institute’s immune-enhancing platforms and vaccine development expertise with SML Biopharm’s differentiated mRNA and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery technologies.
Together, they aim to establish an end-to-end joint development framework spanning candidate discovery, formulation, preclinical studies, and clinical development, ultimately leading to globally competitive next-generation vaccines and immunotherapies.
SML Biopharm will contribute advanced capabilities in mRNA sequence design, optimization of essential components such as UTRs and poly(A) tails, and a proprietary LNP delivery platform designed for high efficiency and low toxicity.
CHA Vaccine Institute will leverage these tools to spearhead antigen discovery, immune efficacy validation, and clinical strategy execution. This division of roles is expected to accelerate the identification of innovative candidates and streamline the path to commercialization.
The scope of collaboration extends beyond infectious disease vaccines to therapeutic applications, including personalized cancer vaccines, addressing areas of high unmet medical need.
CHA Vaccine Institute noted that the MOU will not only help generate new pipelines but also enhance its existing mRNA portfolio with next-generation technologies.
“This partnership marks an important turning point, enabling us to expand from infectious disease vaccines to the field of therapeutic cancer vaccines,” CHA Vaccine Institute CEO Han Sung-il said. “By combining our immune-enhancing platforms with SML Biopharm’s expertise, we will work to address unmet medical needs while contributing to the advancement of Korea’s biotech ecosystem.”
SML Biopharm CEO Nam Jae-hwan also said, “By combining CHA Vaccine Institute’s unique immune-enhancing technologies with our mRNA and LNP platforms, we will create differentiated vaccines and therapeutics.”
This collaboration will accelerate the development of globally competitive next-generation pipelines, Nam added.