• With a 35,000 m² plant located in the east of Antioquia and using the most advanced technology, VaxThera intends to guarantee sanitary security and independence of biologicals in Latin America.
• Once it is operational, the plant will have, during his first phase, the capacity to produce up to 100 million vials per year.
• VaxThera will have the ability to research and produce vaccines for emergent infectious diseases and to support the Expanded Immunization Plan.

September 20, 2021. VaxThera, a biotechnology company focused on research, development, and production of vaccines and other biologicals, has announced that its 35,000 m² production and bottling plant will be located in Rionegro, a municipality in the east of Antioquia. The plant will have the highest technological and human talent standards and will create over 500 jobs to support local and regional talent.

The plant’s location was decided after a detailed analysis carried out by a group of experts and consultants which considered the necessary conditions for the company’s operations. Construction is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2022 and begin operations in 2023.

“At VaxThera we keep advancing with our plan to set up a plant and a research and development laboratory in Colombia to develop vaccines for the prevention and treatment of emerging infectious diseases in the Latin American region and, thus, produce a significant impact on global health and ensure sanitary security and independence for biologicals in Latin America, by providing fair access for all ”, said Jorge Emilio Osorio, president of VaxThera.

The plant will have the capacity to produce up to 100 million vials a year. It also intends to import and commercialize vaccines and other types of biologicals into Colombia and Latin America, and transfer to the country the necessary technology to produce and develop these types of products, and thus contribute to the sanitary security of the country and the region.

VaxThera is currently negotiating technology transfer agreements with several international allies. This will enable the company to borrow and finish important vaccines for the vaccination program in Colombia and the region, following the highest applicable standards and rules, thus creating new capabilities in Latin America.

It is important to point out that this plant will follow the highest production standards, under the rules and regulations established for good manufacturing practices by the WHO, OMS, FDA, EMA, and INVIMA.

VaxThera will also have a 1700 m² laboratory to carry out research and development of new biologicals. The laboratory will be located in Salud SURA Industriales in Medellín, where some 25 researchers from the region will be working on the various stages of biologicals development.

The company has a projected investment of $54 million from Seguros SURA Colombia for the first phase, and the knowledge of a group of researchers led by Dr. Jorge Emilio Osorio Benítez, who has over 30 years experience in vaccine research and development.

About VaxThera
VaxThera is a Colombian science-based company dedicated to research and development of biologicals for the world. The company aims to achieve sanitary independence through research, development, and innovation in biotechnology and health. The company was born from the articulation between SURA and world-class researchers in the areas of biotechnology and human health.

About Jorge Emilio Osorio Benitez
President and founder of VaxThera. He is a Full Professor of the Pathobiological Sciences Department at the University of Wisconsin ‑ Madison (United States). In addition, he holds Master and PhD degrees by the University of Wisconsin where he studied emerging viral diseases. He was a Co-Founder and Scientific Director of Inviragen, a biotechnology company that developed a new vaccine against dengue. He also developed vaccines against the chikungunya, the flu, rabies, plague, and many other emerging infectious diseases. He was also Vice President of Research and Vice President of Scientific Affairs at the Commercial Division of Vaccines in Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Additionally, his career in the industry has included Heska Corporation (Ft. Collins, CO), Merial LTD (Atenas, GA/Lyon, France) and Chiron-Powderject vaccines (Madison, WI). He has over 30 years experience in research and his h-index is 37, with over 150 publications in international journals, and 32 patents.

Contacto de prensa:
Eliana Siegert
esiegert@vaxthera.com