AAHI and Quratis Forge Strategic Partnership to Transform Global Vaccine Manufacturing and Expand Access to Lifesaving Immunizations
In a landmark development for global health equity, the Access to Advanced Health Institute (AAHI) has announced a strategic partnership with Quratis, a premier biotechnology company and advanced Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO). This collaboration is set to redefine the way vaccines are developed, manufactured, and delivered, with a strong emphasis on making lifesaving immunizations more accessible to populations worldwide—particularly those in low- and middle-income countries where access has historically been delayed or limited.
The alliance between these two organizations represents not just a business arrangement, but a concerted effort to close the gap between cutting-edge scientific discovery and its real-world application. By combining AAHI’s world-leading expertise in vaccine innovation with Quratis’ state-of-the-art manufacturing and process optimization capabilities, the partnership aims to ensure that promising new vaccines move efficiently from the laboratory to the people who need them most.
AAHI’s Mission: Turning Breakthrough Science into Field-Ready Solutions
Headquartered in Seattle, AAHI has built a reputation as a global leader in translating high-impact science into scalable, field-ready vaccine solutions. Its mission revolves around taking complex immunological discoveries and ensuring that they are practical, affordable, and deployable in the environments where infectious diseases have their greatest toll.
Unlike many research-focused organizations, AAHI does not stop at discovery. Its model includes technology platforms that are designed to overcome the practical barriers of vaccine access—such as dependence on cold chain infrastructure, delivery methods that require highly trained staff, or production processes that are too expensive for widespread deployment.
AAHI’s portfolio of technologies includes dry-form vaccines that can be stored and shipped without refrigeration, adjuvants that boost immune response and reduce the amount of antigen required per dose, and needle-free delivery systems that improve safety and accessibility. These innovations are especially valuable in global health contexts, where traditional vaccine logistics often limit reach.
By designating Quratis as its preferred manufacturing partner, AAHI is strengthening its ability to ensure these technologies are not only scientifically robust but also manufactured at a quality and scale suitable for global deployment.
Quratis: A Biotech and CDMO with Global Reach
Quratis, headquartered in South Korea, is internationally recognized as both a biotechnology innovator and a cutting-edge CDMO. With a GMP-certified bioplant and proven expertise across the spectrum of pharmaceutical development—from raw material processing to finished product manufacturing—Quratis has established itself as a key player in the biopharmaceutical sector.
What sets Quratis apart is its dual identity. On one hand, the company has its own research pipeline, with notable vaccine programs for tuberculosis (QTP101) and COVID-19 (QTP104) that have demonstrated both scientific rigor and real-world promise. On the other hand, Quratis operates as a high-capacity CDMO, offering contract development and manufacturing services to global partners. This dual model means Quratis not only understands the science of vaccines but also the industrial requirements of scaling them for global markets.
Its facilities boast end-to-end capabilities, including:
- Process development and optimization to reduce costs while maintaining quality.
- Large-scale production capacity, compliant with stringent global regulatory standards.
- Cutting-edge delivery technologies that support innovative vaccine platforms.
By partnering with Quratis, AAHI is ensuring that its pipeline benefits from this deep manufacturing expertise—shortening development timelines and creating a clear pathway from pre-clinical innovation to commercial availability.
The Scope of the Partnership
Under this newly announced alliance, Quratis has been selected as AAHI’s preferred manufacturer for both pre-clinical and clinical vaccine supplies, with the ability to transition into full commercial-scale production for global markets.
This agreement provides AAHI with a seamless manufacturing and supply chain platform that can accelerate vaccine development and ensure consistent, high-quality production. By securing a trusted partner in Quratis, AAHI can focus more intensively on scientific discovery and clinical validation, while knowing that the critical manufacturing infrastructure is in place.
Importantly, the partnership encompasses several key vaccine programs that are poised to have transformative global impact:
- Tuberculosis (TB) Vaccines
TB remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, with over 10 million new cases and 1.3 million deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Current prevention methods, such as the BCG vaccine, have limited efficacy in adults. AAHI’s candidate vaccine, co-developed with Quratis (QTP101), represents a new generation of TB immunizations that could significantly reduce global disease burden. - Malaria Vaccines
Despite decades of research, malaria continues to kill hundreds of thousands annually, particularly children in sub-Saharan Africa. AAHI is developing vaccine formulations that leverage its GLA-SE adjuvant to improve immune response, making protection more durable and effective. - HIV Vaccines
HIV/AIDS continues to affect millions worldwide, with no preventive vaccine yet available. AAHI’s work in this field emphasizes novel adjuvant platforms and delivery systems that may finally help turn the tide in the fight against HIV. - Other Emerging Pathogens
AAHI’s portfolio extends beyond these headline diseases to include efforts against other infectious threats with pandemic potential. Having a robust manufacturing partner ensures that these programs can pivot quickly in response to new outbreaks.
Breaking Barriers: The Importance of Manufacturing at Scale
One of the most persistent challenges in global health is not scientific discovery, but manufacturing and distribution. Even when promising vaccines are developed, getting them into the arms of patients often takes years due to production bottlenecks, regulatory hurdles, and inequitable distribution practices.
The COVID-19 pandemic offered a stark reminder of these challenges. While wealthy nations were able to secure large vaccine supplies early, many lower-income countries waited months or years, with devastating consequences. Experts agree that creating a more resilient, geographically diverse manufacturing network is essential to preventing a repeat of this inequity.
This is where the AAHI–Quratis partnership demonstrates its transformative potential. By leveraging Quratis’ large-scale, GMP-compliant production facilities in Asia, AAHI is ensuring that its vaccines are manufactured closer to where they are needed most. This decentralization of production not only reduces costs and improves access but also enhances global preparedness for future health emergencies.
Voices from Leadership
The announcement of the partnership was accompanied by strong statements of commitment from both organizations.
“Partnering with Quratis is a very important step in AAHI’s strategy to advance practical, life-saving vaccines that can be deployed at scale where they’re needed most,” said Keeley Foley, CEO of AAHI. “Quratis’ innovative, cutting-edge, and world-class CDMO capabilities make it possible for AAHI to deliver on our mission—and help ensure our efforts to combat infectious diseases and foster health autonomy worldwide. Together, we’re not just manufacturing vaccines—we’re delivering on our mission to revolutionize global health.”
Similarly, Quratis leadership emphasized the alignment between the organizations:
“We are honored and thrilled to join forces with AAHI, a pioneer in immune-enhancing technologies and sustainable vaccine solutions,” said Soung Joon Kim, CEO of Quratis. “This partnership aligns perfectly with our vision of making people happy and healthy through borderless healthcare innovations. By supporting AAHI’s pipeline, we expect to create value not only for global health but also for our shareholders through long-term growth opportunities.”
Building on a Strong Foundation
This partnership does not emerge in isolation but builds on a history of collaboration between AAHI and Quratis. The two organizations previously worked together on the co-development of the ID93+GLA-SE tuberculosis vaccine candidate (QTP101), which has advanced through early clinical trials with promising results.
That experience demonstrated the synergy between AAHI’s innovative science and Quratis’ manufacturing expertise. The new strategic alliance now formalizes and expands that cooperation, creating a framework for broader collaboration across multiple vaccine programs.
A Global Vision for Vaccine Equity
At its core, this partnership is about more than vaccines. It is about health equity and the recognition that lifesaving interventions should not be a privilege of wealthier nations. By streamlining the journey from research to delivery, AAHI and Quratis are actively working to create a world where all populations—regardless of geography or income—have timely access to critical immunizations.
The agreement also contributes to building a more sustainable global vaccine supply chain. By strengthening manufacturing capacity in Asia and integrating it into AAHI’s global network, the partnership supports WHO’s call for diversified production hubs that can respond quickly to regional health needs and emergencies.
The AAHI–Quratis partnership is poised to accelerate timelines, lower costs, and expand access for some of the world’s most urgently needed vaccines. Over the coming years, stakeholders can expect to see progress across multiple fronts:
- Advancement of TB, malaria, and HIV vaccine candidates through clinical trials.
- Greater integration of adjuvant and delivery technologies into scalable manufacturing.
- Expansion into new vaccine programs targeting emerging infectious threats.
- Strengthened global resilience against pandemics through distributed production.
For both organizations, this partnership represents a convergence of vision and capability. For the world, it offers hope that vaccines of the future will be not only scientifically advanced but also affordable, accessible, and available where they are most needed.
The collaboration between AAHI and Quratis is a powerful demonstration of how scientific innovation and manufacturing excellence can come together to advance global health equity. By leveraging their complementary strengths, the two organizations are creating a model for how vaccines can be developed, manufactured, and deployed more efficiently and equitably.
As the global community continues to grapple with persistent infectious diseases and prepare for future health crises, partnerships like this will be essential. They represent not just progress in science and industry but also a moral commitment to ensure that lifesaving tools are within reach for everyone, everywhere.
