'Next Pandemic' Response Global Agencies Gathered... SK Bioscience Global Forum

Discussion on Response Strategies through Global Network

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Leading global institutions gathered in Korea to explore strategies for responding to the 'next pandemic.'

On the 27th, SK Bioscience held the ‘SK Bioscience Global Forum’ at its headquarters in Pangyo, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. The forum was organized to discuss COVID-19 response strategies under the theme 'Towards Global Partnerships: How to Prevent the Next Pandemic.'

Attending the forum were Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Ahn Cheol-soo, member of the People Power Party, Trevor Mundel, Head of Global Health at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Richard Hatchett, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Jerome Kim, Director General of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), Hee-jin Jung, Director of Korea University Guro Hospital, and other heads of institutions from around the world, along with Changwon Choi, Vice Chairman of SK Discovery, and Jaeyong Ahn, President of SK Bioscience.

Vice Chairman Changwon Choi said, "Despite difficult circumstances, SK Bioscience was able to achieve meaningful results during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to the support of the Korean government, its people, and global partners. We believe the way to repay this support is to grow as an innovative partner in the vaccine and bio sectors and contribute to global health. We will strive to become a key pillar in global public health projects, including the next pandemic,” he said.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, in his congratulatory remarks, stated, “With the cooperation and support of international organizations, SK Bioscience was able to smoothly develop vaccines, securing Korea’s vaccine sovereignty while contributing to the international community’s efforts to overcome infectious diseases. Going forward, Korea will fulfill its role and responsibility as a ‘Global Bio Workforce Training Hub’ designated by the WHO to protect public health worldwide.”

At the forum, Professor Neil King of the Institute for Protein Design (IPD) at the University of Washington presented on nanoparticle technology, one of the core technologies applied to the COVID-19 vaccine ‘GBP510’ co-developed with SK Bioscience. Following this, Director Hee-jin Jung, who oversaw domestic clinical trials, explained the excellent immunogenicity and safety results of GBP510 clinical trials.

In the subsequent session, representatives from the Gates Foundation, CEPI, the International Vaccine Institute, and SK Bioscience presented strategies for the next pandemic. Trevor Mundel emphasized, “To secure the methods needed to prevent new threats like the next pandemic, unity and cooperation from everyone are essential. We must ensure that anyone, anywhere, anytime in the world can equitably access these methods when needed.”

SK Bioscience’s next pandemic response strategy was also introduced. President Jaeyong Ahn said, “To prepare for the next pandemic, the most effective and only way is to strengthen partnerships. As a member of global partnerships, we will fulfill our role through continuous innovation. By constructing the R&PD center in Songdo, significantly expanding the L-House in Andong, expanding global certifications, and developing innovative technologies, we will leap to the world’s highest level in both production scale and quality. We will work not only in prevention but also in treatment to promote human health.”

Alongside the COVID-19 vaccine GBP510, SK Bioscience is also developing a universal vaccine targeting ‘Sarbecovirus,’ which includes COVID-19, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) viruses, and related variants, as well as various infectious disease medicines that have mainly been imported.