Vaxdigm Co., Ltd., a trailblazing biotherapeutics company in the non-clinical stage committed to developing future pandemic vaccines, recently announced its selection for two non-clinical projects by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2023. These projects involve the development of a West Nile vaccine and a universal influenza vaccine.
Vaxdigm has forged an extensive global network encompassing both domestic and foreign research institutes. To delve into the startup journey and ongoing vaccine research aimed at advancing current technology, we held an interview with Dr. Kim Sung-Jae, the CEO of Vaxdigm.
The following is the full-text of Korea IT Times’ interview with CEO Kim Sung-jae of Vaxdigm.
Question: When was Vaxdigm founded?
Answer: Vaxdigm was established at the end of 2021. As a startup equipped with proprietary technology for the swift development and production of enhanced vaccines, including those for COVID-19 and future infectious diseases, our goal is to spearhead the paradigm shift in global vaccine development.
The name "Vaxdigm" is a fusion of "vaccine" and "paradigm," reflecting our mission to play a pivotal role in the evolving landscape of vaccine development.
Q: What was your background before founding Vaxdigm?
A: Prior to launching Vaxdigm, I accumulated over 30 years of experience in pharmaceutical companies, spanning non-clinical, clinical, and approval processes.
My academic journey included more than a decade of basic research in bio and pharmaceutical sciences at Yonsei University Biotechnology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, and the University of Texas at Austin. This extensive background equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of bio, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare.
Q: What is Vaxdigm currently working on, and what sets your vaccine development know-how apart?
A: Vaxdigm is focused on expanding pipelines using our platform technology that enhances the water solubility of target proteins, aiming to expedite the development of various animal and human vaccines with improved cost efficiency, efficacy, safety, and stability.
Our approach, utilizing a microorganism-based protein expression system, distinguishes us from competitors like Novavax and SK Bioscience. We aim to swiftly and cost-effectively produce synthetic antigen vaccines, leveraging our proprietary technology.
Q: Two tasks have been selected for the 2023 national research project. Could you briefly elaborate on these studies?
A: The Ministry of Health and Welfare selected Vaxdigm for two non-clinical projects in 2023, focused on developing vaccines for future pandemics and new infectious diseases. One project centers on creating a universal influenza vaccine, addressing the challenges of frequent mutations and short immunity duration.
The second project involves the development of a West Nile vaccine, targeting a virus with pandemic potential. Both projects align with our commitment to a proactive response and are backed by a 4.3 billion won national research project.
Q: What are Vaxdigm's notable research achievements, and what are your future plans, including the possibility of listing?
A: Our main technological focus is on developing a domestic vaccine platform for a rapid response to future pandemics. By collaborating with research institutes and companies globally, we aim to advance and commercialize our vaccine technology. Our strategy involves developing a vaccine platform similar to Pfizer and Moderna's methods, allowing us to quickly adapt to emerging pandemics.
We've garnered initial support from accelerator New Paradigm Investment and were selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' TIPS and New Paradigm Investment's '2022 Baby Unicorn Development Project.' Our trajectory includes completing Series B investment around 2026, with plans to list on KOSDAQ in 2027.
We are driven to exceed the Break Even Point by launching and selling animal vaccines before listing, aligning with the evolving dynamics of the bio market, which is expected to grow to around 200 trillion won by 2026. Through ongoing national projects, we aim to establish a rapid development platform for human vaccines, enabling the safe and swift development of genetic recombinant vaccines in response to future pandemics.
Additionally, our research collaborations with domestic and foreign animal drug development companies aim to revolutionize the cost-effective development of animal vaccines. As the next step, we aim to successfully enter the market through out-licensing or strategic partnerships with global pharmaceutical companies focusing on vaccine marketing.
We believe that these collaborations will pave the way for the successful introduction of our products into the market.
