No local-vaccine facility this year–investments regulator

EVEN if deals for establishing local vaccine facilities are sealed in 2021, the Board of Investments (Boi)—which is negotiating with potential manufacturers—said it will still take a few years before the country can produce its own Covid-19 doses.

BOI Executive Director for Industry Development Services Maria Corazon H. Dichosa told reporters it’s impossible to put up a vaccine plant this year even if partnership agreements on the matter are settled before the year ends. Should this be the case, however, the “earliest signs” of a vaccine facility will still be seen by 2022 or 2023, Dichosa added.

Ordering modules for the vaccine plant, she explained, would take some time. The official said the licensing and approval from the Food and Drug Administration should also be factored in.

Dichosa further said that a filland-finish vaccine facility will take an estimated three years to put up before it operates. This type of facility imports the antigen and completes the fill-and-finish process, putting the vaccine into vials.

According to recent estimates, Dichosa said establishing a fill-andfinish facility will cost at least P300 million, excluding the consumables. Additional costs will be needed for other investments and spending such as land or leasing fees.

She added that the agency is currently in talks with several potential vaccine manufacturers who are willing to invest in the country. But they are still looking for technology partners to establish their facilities if ever, Dichosa said.

Trade Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo said the Philippines is also in talks with technology sources from Russia, Korea, China and India.

Meanwhile, the interested investors are studying the size of the market and their operations’ feasibility and viability.

“In fact, gusto na talaga naming siyang i-fast track but ’yung mga tataya ng pera nila, they also want to ensure na hindi naman rin sila malulugi [We want to fast track the developments but investors also want to ensure profitability],” Dichosa explained.

She said there are companies looking at initially manufacturing Covid-19 vaccines in the country as these are urgent. Some may start producing flu vaccines first given that it has already a “big market.”

“It [flu vaccine] is quite a big market and even the private clinics and hospitals actually [administer doses], so it is not dependent on the government immunization program,” Dichosa said. “Some would have a mix, some would have probably start with the flu vaccine then go to the Covid vaccine.”

If ever, other investors’ production will depend on the technology provider’s portfolio as well, she added.

“We would want to have a capability to supply at least part of the requirements for vaccines against Covid-19 immediately but given the timelines, [maybe] at the very least we could start the process from a [fill and finish],” Rodolfo added.

Earlier this year, local pharmaceutical firm Glovax Biotech Corp. announced its partnership with Korean vaccine manufacturer Eubiologics Co. Ltd. to produce Eucorvac-19 in the country. It has an annual capacity of 100 million doses and can allocate 40 million to the Philippines.