#South Korea #Seongnam #Influenza vaccine #SK bioscience #SKYCellflu

SK bioscience's Commitment to Global Health

SK bioscience, a pioneering company in vaccine and biotechnology, has recently made headlines by initiating the export of its self-developed influenza vaccine, SKYCellflu, to Southern Hemisphere countries. This move is part of their broader commitment to improving public health and ensuring the availability of vaccines year-round. The company plans to supply a total of 750,000 doses in the first half of this year, specifically targeting markets in Southeast Asia and Latin America.

Building on Proven Success

This shipment represents the second wave of exports for SK bioscience following last year's venture into Thailand, which, despite being situated in the Northern Hemisphere, adheres to the World Health Organization's (WHO) vaccination guidelines applicable to both hemispheres. The WHO recommends vaccine administration biannually, matching vaccines with the prevalent strains in these regions.

By enhancing exports to the Southern Hemisphere, SK bioscience aims to ensure steady vaccine production, thereby optimizing supply stability and reducing costs. The SKYCellflu vaccine is notable as the world's first cell culture-based influenza vaccine to receive WHO Prequalification (PQ) certification. This certification underscores its advanced manufacturing process, which minimizes the risk of viral mutations commonly seen with traditional egg-based production, ensuring that the vaccine is better aligned with circulating viruses.

Moreover, the cell culture methodology significantly shortens production timelines, which is crucial during times of outbreaks or pandemics, allowing quicker responses to public health threats.

Market Growth and Future Plans

The global market for influenza vaccines is projected to expand at an annual growth rate of 8.5% over the next few years, with projections estimating the market could reach $7 billion by 2030. To capitalize on this growth, SK bioscience is actively forging contracts across nations in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, where incidences of seasonal influenza have seen a marked uptick.

In addition to SKYCellflu, SK bioscience is on an ambitious path to broaden its portfolio of vaccines by increasing the supply of its varicella vaccine (SKYVaricella) to the same regions. The company is also exploring opportunities for its shingles vaccine, SKYZoster, particularly within Asian markets.

In response to high rates of typhoid fever in regions such as Africa and South Asia, SK bioscience has made strides to penetrate these markets with its typhoid conjugate vaccine (SKYTyphoid), which received the WHO PQ certification the previous year. This vaccine demonstrates strong immunogenicity and offers protection with a single-dose administration.

Looking Ahead

CEO of SK bioscience, Jaeyong Ahn, emphasized, "Our independently developed vaccines have not only showcased their competitive edge in the international market through acquiring WHO PQ certification but will also drive our global expansion efforts. Our goal is to significantly contribute to the growth of Korea's biotech sector while enhancing global public health." This commitment mirrors the company's ethos of leveraging cutting-edge technologies and cooperative efforts with governments, healthcare providers, and medical professionals to provide high-quality vaccines worldwide.

As SK bioscience continues to innovate and expand its reach, the implications for global health are profound. The organization's proactive approach in the face of rising public health demands exemplifies how biotechnology plays a crucial role in shaping future vaccination strategies and public health policies. With its advancements and comprehensive outlook towards vaccine accessibility, SK bioscience stands at the forefront of the global health landscape, poised for even greater contributions in the years to come.