The facility is located in the municipality of Rionegro, Antioquia, and will have the capacity to produce more than 100 million doses of biological products annually.
Colombia will be one of five countries in Latin America with the capacity to produce its own vaccines and therapies.
May 2024
VaxThera, a 100% Colombian biotechnology company, has completed the construction of its vaccine and therapy fill-and-finish facility. This significant milestone for national public health will help the country achieve health sovereignty and establish itself as a hub for scientific research in Latin America. The complex features state-of-the-art technology, quality and control processes that meet international standards, and a highly qualified professional team capable of filling and finishing over 100 million doses of biological products per year.
VaxThera was established in 2021 with the goal of restoring Colombia’s vaccine production capabilities, enabling an effective and autonomous response to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases—or future pandemics, such as COVID-19. Three years later, the company has made progress on its 35,000-square-meter facility; this first phase includes six operational and administrative blocks where biological products will be filled and finished in liquid formats, using both single-dose and multi-dose vials. The complex will produce vaccines and therapies based on viral vector and mRNA platforms—technologies that VaxThera has been developing with local talent since 2021. Furthermore, the facility will handle the fill-and-finish process for several vaccines included in Colombia’s Expanded Program on Immunization (PAI), such as those for Human Papillomavirus (HPV), pentavalent vaccines, pneumococcus, influenza, polio, and rotavirus, among others. as a result of strong alliances with various biotechnology companies in Latin America, Asia, the United States, and Europe.
“At VaxThera, we are committed to Colombia’s health sovereignty—a country where vaccines have not been produced for over 20 years. VaxThera’s impact will extend beyond Colombia, strengthening our capabilities and our scientific and research expertise throughout the entire region. With the completion of our fill-and-finish facility, we are moving ever closer to achieving this significant milestone for national public health, positioning our nation as a hub for scientific research for Latin America and the world,” states Jorge Emilio Osorio, CEO of VaxThera.
The company has completed the construction of its fill-and-finish unit, a critical component in the manufacturing process for biological products. This facility has been meticulously designed, featuring unidirectional workflows aligned with the production process, as well as the segregation of spaces and personnel to prevent cross-contamination. It is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, automated quality control systems, and specialized equipment that ensures an aseptic (sterile and safe) process, along with proper product storage within cold chains maintained at 2–8°C, -20°C, and -80°C. Furthermore, the company’s workforce is being trained to the highest quality standards and will be equipped to manage and oversee the production of over 100 million doses of vaccines and medications annually—supplies destined for use throughout Colombia and in other countries around the world. “VaxThera is a visionary company that fosters the development of the industry. Today, we are not only celebrating the completion of the construction phase for the fill-and-finish of biological products, but we also want to share with all Colombians that VaxThera is moving into the production phase. This follows the signing of a framework agreement for collaboration and co-development with the Belgian company Univercells, with whom we will develop vaccines using viral vector and mRNA platforms, utilizing state-of-the-art, fully automated equipment,” states Juan Pablo Hernández Ortiz, CCO of VaxThera.
Through the construction of its facility, VaxThera is strengthening the transfer of knowledge and technology with countries such as the United States, Belgium, India, China, South Africa, Brazil, and Argentina—markets that recognize Colombia’s potential, thanks to its research talent, sound healthcare practices, geographic location, biodiversity, and infrastructure.
VaxThera is committed to environmental stewardship and the country’s social development. Its infrastructure is designed to be a benchmark for sustainable construction, incorporating architectural design and optimized material usage, with the goal of achieving LEED Gold certification—an international standard for environmentally responsible buildings. The facility will feature water treatment systems, rainwater harvesting for general utility use, and solar panels capable of providing energy efficiency of up to 700 kWh per hour. Furthermore, the company will create more than 500 direct jobs for Colombians, strengthening the productive fabric of the pharmaceutical industry within the country. “Since the inception of VaxThera, we have fostered relationships with stakeholders in both the public and private sectors—both domestically and internationally—with the goal of ensuring that this science, research, and innovation complex meets the highest national and international quality standards. Furthermore, we recognize the talent within our domestic industry; consequently, we have engaged companies from various sectors in this project, thereby energizing the economy, promoting regional development, and creating new employment opportunities,” says Jorge Emilio Osorio, CEO of VaxThera.
The company has become a reality thanks to a $100 million investment, which is being directed toward the construction of a vaccine production facility, the strengthening of research capabilities, the advancement of scientific knowledge, and the recruitment of highly qualified talent, among other initiatives.
VaxThera is a SURA company—an organization that, through its long-standing track record and leadership, has demonstrated a firm commitment to national public health and the well-being of the Colombian people. Upon completion of its biologicals production facility, the company will begin the certification process with both national and international regulatory authorities, including Colombia’s National Food and Drug Surveillance Institute (INVIMA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Press Contact:
Manuela Sánchez
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