PT Bio Farma & PT Biotis are Ready to Produce Red and White Vaccines

Medical officers show the COVID-19 Sinovac Biofarma vaccine before the vaccination injection in Malang, East Java, Friday (5/3/2021). (Photo: ANTARA / Ari Bowo Sucipto)

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KBR, Jakarta – Minister of Research and Technology / Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Bambang Brodjonegoro conveyed the latest developments in the development of the Red and White COVID-19 vaccine.

Two pharmaceutical companies, namely PT Bio Farma and PT Biotis Prima Agrisindo, are ready to produce the Red and White vaccine, respectively developed by the Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology (LBM) and Airlangga University.

Bambang ensured that the development of the red and white vaccine was fully carried out in the country. He said the importance of vaccine independence for long-term immunization needs in Indonesia.

“This is why we are making every effort so that we can give birth to the Indonesian version of the Covid-19 vaccine which we call the Red and White vaccine. The definition of the Red and White vaccine is the development of vaccine seeds using virus isolators circulating in Indonesia and will be carried out by Indonesian researchers and Of course the production is also carried out in Indonesia, “said Bambang in a press conference with the Indonesian Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), Wednesday (14/4/2021).

Bambang Brodjonegoro said there are six institutions that are currently developing the red and white vaccine. Among them are the Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology (LBM) with recombinant protein subunits, LIPI with recombinant protein, Universitas Airlangga with inactivated virus and adenovirus, Bandung Institute of Technology with recombinant protein subunit and adenovirus vector.

Then there is Gajah Mada University using recombinant protein subunits and the University of Indonesia developing vaccines using DNA, mRNA and virus-like-particles.

“Of the six currently working, there are two that are developing the fastest, namely Eijkman with recombinant protein, especially those with Yeast expression, where PT Bio Farma is ready to become the manufacturing party. Another one that is also processing quite fast is Airlangga University by using inactivated virus and has got an industrial partner, namely PT Biotis, “he said.

However, Bambang said PT Biotis was still processing a permit for Good Manufacturing Practices (CPOB) at the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM).

“We expect BPOM support so that we have a vaccine development industry outside of Bio Farma. Our dependence on Biofarma will cause problems if we need to produce in large quantities,” said Bambang.

Editor: And Luqman

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