News & Events
News & Events
Institut Pasteur Korea Begins Distribution of Heat-Inactivated Monkeypox Virus Resources
2025-03-25
Institut Pasteur Korea Begins Distribution of
Heat-Inactivated Monkeypox Virus Resources
- Available for use in Biosafety Level-2 (BSL-2) laboratories -
- Customized production and distribution based on research demand -
Institut Pasteur Korea (IPK) announced on the 25th that it has launched the distribution of heat-inactivated monkeypox virus resources*, marking the first of its kind in Korea.
* Inactivated resources refer to biological materials in which pathogens such as viruses are rendered non-infectious through chemical or physical treatments. These resources are widely used in the development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostic medical technologies.
To support research institutions that do not possess to Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) facilities, IPK has now begun providing inactivated monkeypox virus resources that can be used in BSL-2 facilities.
* Inactivated resources refer to biological materials in which pathogens such as viruses are rendered non-infectious through chemical or physical treatments. These resources are widely used in the development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostic medical technologies.
In response to growing research demand on Mpox (monkeypox), IPK’s Biobank has been distributing seven strains of monkeypox virus isolated in Korea since August 2024.
To support research institutions that do not possess to Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) facilities, IPK has now begun providing inactivated monkeypox virus resources that can be used in BSL-2 facilities.
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Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus, characterized by acute fever, headache, and skin rashes. Since 2023, cluster outbreaks have been reported, and cases continue to emerge in various countries outside of Africa.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) twice—in July 2022 and again in August 2023.
As a high-risk pathogen designated by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the monkeypox virus must be handled under strict regulations, including the use of BSL-3 laboratories and prior reporting for isolation and transport.
However, inactivated virus resources can be used in BSL-2 settings, which enables broader use in the private sector, such as in the development of diagnostic reagents, therapeutics and vaccine platforms, and virus reference materials.
In the future, IPK’s Biobank plans to prioritize the inactivation and distribution of pathogen resources based on demand and will explore collaboration opportunities with other institutions that possess high-risk pathogen materials.
Researchers and companies wishing to obtain these resources can register and apply for distribution through the Resource Research Center (RRC) website of IPK.
In addition to inactivated monkeypox virus, IPK’s Biobank currently offers nine types of pathogen resources (e.g., influenza viruses), five types of derivatives (e.g., HIV-1 and HIV-2 positive materials), and around seven types of clinical samples such as patient sera for Q fever, Scrub typhus, and SFTS. Pathogen and inactivated resources can be requested in advance via phone or email.
Dr. Sung Key Jang, CEO of IPK, stated, "We are committed to supporting academia and industry by providing customized inactivated resources for institutions without BSL-3 facilities. We will also continue our efforts to secure emerging and re-emerging infectious disease pathogens and clinical samples from abroad, contributing to Korea’s preparedness and response capabilities."