[Comprehensive News from Qiaobao.com] The American company Moderna announced on the 16th that it will set up a subsidiary in Taiwan to be responsible for vaccine supply and support Taiwan’s demand for mRNA vaccines and therapeutic drugs. Taiwan's Minister of Health and Welfare, Chen Shih-chung, said that Taiwan welcomes Taiwan with open arms. He also emphasized that the two sides do not rule out various possibilities for cooperation.
Moderna Corporation. (Photo source: Reuters)
Comprehensive Central News Agency and Taipei's "China Times" reported that Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel issued a press release on the 16th, saying, "I am very happy to announce the establishment of a subsidiary in Taiwan and look forward to the follow-up. There are more opportunities for cooperation to provide Taiwanese people with more health care solutions based on mRNA technology. "
In this regard, Chen Shizhong, commander of the Taiwan Epidemic Command Center, said on the 16th that Moderna went to Taiwan to set up a subsidiary to represent them. If you want to develop in Taiwan, although the direction of development is not yet clear, as long as Moderna comes to Taiwan to set up a base, any possibility of future cooperation between the two parties will not be ruled out and is "quite welcome."
Industry insiders said that last year, the Taiwan Legislative Yuan passed a new version of the "Biotech and New Drug Industry Development Regulations", which for the first time included commissioned OEMs (CDMOs) to enjoy tax benefits. The authorities are also actively seeking cooperation opportunities with major international manufacturers such as Moderna.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the “National Development Council” and other relevant units have been trying to get Moderna to come to Taiwan through various channels since last year, and the plan is to be funded by the “National Development Fund” and follow the past investment model of TSMC. One of the current planning directions is to establish a new technology company in which the government's shareholding will be less than 49% and seeking private investment.
According to statistics, the Epidemic Command Center ordered 6.05 million doses of vaccine from Moderna last year, and purchased an additional 35 million doses of vaccine from Moderna at the end of last year, including the option of next-generation vaccines, of which 20 million doses will be delivered this year. ,
So far, Taiwanese people have received more than 13 million doses of the Moderna vaccine. (End)
