(Unofficial Translation)

CEPI Chief Executive Officer Richard Hatchett and CEPI Director for Korea Gro Nicolaysen, I wholeheartedly welcome you to Cheong Wa Dae. I have met with SK Bioscience Chief Executive Officer Ahn Jae-yong on several occasions for vaccine issues. I am glad to see you again. 

In the process of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, CEPI has made truly important and immense contributions. Its bold support for vaccine development that was staunchly pushed by the CEO made it possible for vaccines to be developed at an unprecedented pace. Thanks to this success, countless lives have been saved.

 I believe this is a good example of global cooperation against infectious diseases. After joining CEPI last year, Korea has been actively cooperating. Our businesses have been contributing by contract manufacturing various vaccines. Not content with these contributions, we’ve made it a national goal to develop and produce vaccines with our own technologies at all costs this time around – in an effort to brace for yet another novel infectious disease going forward. I am grateful to CEPI for having provided considerable support in this regard.  

In particular, given the results of recent phase 2 clinical trials that have been released so far, SK Bioscience’s vaccine development – which CEPI and the Korean Government have been jointly supporting – seems to be very successful, and we have high expectations. There are still phase 3 clinical trials left. I ask CEPI to continue to take interest until the very end to ensure successful development. 

 Thank you.