SK Bioscience to Pursue KOSPI Listing... Targeting First Half of Next Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] SK Bioscience is planning an initial public offering (IPO).

On the 27th, SK Bioscience held a board meeting and decided to pursue a listing on the KOSPI. Accordingly, SK Bioscience plans to submit an application for preliminary review for listing to the Korea Exchange on December 1.

After approval from the Korea Exchange, SK Bioscience intends to file a securities registration statement with the Financial Services Commission. The goal is to be listed on the KOSPI as early as the first half of next year.

The lead underwriter for the IPO is NH Investment & Securities, with Korea Investment & Securities and Mirae Asset Daewoo Securities serving as joint underwriters.

SK Bioscience stated, "Through the IPO, we will respond to rapidly changing external environments such as the spread of COVID-19 and enhance shareholder value through continuous investment and technological innovation."

SK Bioscience is a vaccine-specialized company established in July 2018 after spinning off from SK Chemicals. It sells self-developed cell-cultured influenza vaccines, shingles vaccines, and chickenpox vaccines. It is also developing typhoid vaccines and pediatric enteritis vaccines.

On the 24th, it began clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccine candidate 'NBP2001.' Additionally, the COVID-19 vaccine 'GBP510,' being further developed with support from the Gates Foundation, aims to enter clinical trials within this year.

In July, SK Bioscience signed a contract with AstraZeneca to produce the active pharmaceutical ingredient and finished products of the COVID-19 vaccine candidate, and in August, it signed a contract with Novavax for antigen development, production, and global supply of the COVID-19 vaccine candidate, which is currently in production.