Bridging Academia and Industry: IAVT Visit to Leading Vaccine and Biologics Factories and Research Institutes
From May 13 to 15, 2025, professors and students from the International Degree Program in Animal Vaccine Technology (IAVT) embarked on a three-day industrial tour, visiting Taiwan’s leading vaccine companies and a vaccine development institute. The group explored prominent organizations, including Virbac Taiwan, Bora Biologics, National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) Biopharmaceutical Factory, Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corporation, and Reber Genetics Co., Ltd. The tour offered an in-depth look at cutting-edge vaccine production facilities, advanced manufacturing processes, and innovative research practices driving Taiwan’s vaccine and biologics sector to global prominence.
Virbac Taiwan: Global Expertise in Animal Health
Virbac Taiwan, a subsidiary of the French veterinary pharmaceutical company Virbac, specializes in animal health products, including vaccines and pharmaceuticals for livestock and companion animals. During the visit, students gained insights into Virbac’s organizational structure, key job roles, and career opportunities, both locally and within its global network. The company’s collaboration with Taiwanese institutions and its focus on innovative veterinary solutions highlighted the diverse career paths available in the international animal health industry.
Bora Biologics: Cutting-Edge Biologics Manufacturing
Bora Biologics, a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), impressed the group with its state-of-the-art facilities at the Hsinchu Biomedical Science Park. The company specializes in biologics development, offering services such as cell line establishment, process optimization, and cGMP manufacturing. Students were particularly struck by Bora’s advanced equipment, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC), quantitative PCR (qPCR), 500L and 1,000L single-use bioreactors, isoelectric focusing (icIEF) systems, isolator technology, and automated cell counters. These technologies ensure contamination-free production and precise biologics analysis, underscoring Bora’s commitment to excellence.
National Health Research Institutes (NHRI): Pioneering Vaccine Research
The NHRI Biopharmaceutical Factory, part of Taiwan’s national research institute modeled after the U.S. National Institutes of Health, is a leader in vaccine development and biopharmaceutical research. The visit highlighted NHRI’s cGMP-compliant facilities and its role in advancing Taiwan’s vaccine self-manufacturing capabilities. Students observed the institute’s robust vaccine production platform, which supports the development of vaccines for infectious diseases, including influenza and enterovirus. NHRI’s collaboration with local biotech companies, such as Medigen, further strengthens Taiwan’s biomedical ecosystem.
Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corporation: Innovating for Global Health
Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corporation (MVC), established in 2012, is a key player in Taiwan’s vaccine industry, focusing on vaccines and biosimilars for infectious diseases like COVID-19 and enterovirus A71. The company’s PIC/S GMP-certified facility at Hsinchu Biomedical Science Park supports advanced cell culture technologies for vaccine production. The visit showcased MVC’s state-of-the-art cGMP facilities and their commitment to delivering affordable medicines, particularly for Southeast Asia. Students were inspired by MVC’s rapid development of Taiwan’s first homegrown COVID-19 vaccine and its global partnerships, including technology transfers from the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Reber Genetics Co., Ltd.: Advancing Animal Vaccines
Reber Genetics Co., Ltd. specializes in animal vaccines and pharmaceutical products, with a focus on innovative solutions for livestock health. Although the group could not tour the production areas in detail, the visit revealed Reber’s commitment to quality, as evidenced by their successful PIC/S GMP inspection. The company’s modern facilities and adherence to international standards left a strong impression, highlighting their role in supporting Taiwan’s animal health sector.
Key Takeaways and Impressions
The field trip provided students with a comprehensive understanding of Taiwan’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, emphasizing the integration of advanced manufacturing technologies and stringent quality control measures. The use of cutting-edge equipment, such as single-use bioreactors and isolator technology at Bora Biologics, and the cGMP-compliant facilities at NHRI and Medigen, demonstrated Taiwan’s leadership in biopharmaceutical innovation. Reber Genetics’ focus on animal health and Virbac Taiwan’s global perspective further enriched the students’ understanding of diverse career opportunities and the importance of international standards like PIC/S GMP and cGMP in ensuring product safety and efficacy.
The professionalism and dedication of the staff across all visited sites were particularly inspiring, showcasing Taiwan’s commitment to advancing human and animal health through biotechnology. This field trip not only broadened the students’ perspectives on career paths but also highlighted the critical role of innovation and collaboration in Taiwan’s growing biomedical sector.
