Seeking Measures to Respond to the 'Next Pandemic'
"Enhance Cooperation to Advance Vaccine Development Environment"
Choi Chang-won, Vice Chairman of SK Discovery (from left), Ahn Jae-yong, President of SK Bioscience, Lee Byung-gun, Chairman of the IVI Korea Sponsorship Committee, and Jerome Kim, Secretary-General of IVI, are posing for a commemorative photo after the donation ceremony. [Photo by SK Bioscience]
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] SK Bioscience announced on the 17th that it held a meeting with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to explore sustainable cooperation measures for responding to the 'Next Pandemic.'
The meeting, held at SK Bioscience headquarters, was attended by Jerome Kim, Secretary-General of IVI; George Vickers, Chairman; Lee Byung-geon, Chairman of the IVI Korea Supporters Association; Choi Chang-won, Vice Chairman of SK Discovery; and Ahn Jae-yong, President of SK Bioscience.
A donation ceremony was also held after the meeting. SK Bioscience decided to donate 3 billion KRW to IVI to support vaccine research and development (R&D), equipment, and device purchases. The donation will be delivered through the IVI Korea Supporters Association in the form of a contribution.
SK Bioscience and IVI have been steadily cooperating for nearly 10 years to achieve the common goal of promoting global public health. Last year, SK Bioscience succeeded in developing the typhoid vaccine 'SkyTyphoidMulti' by applying IVI's conjugate vaccine production technology. From the early stages of research and development, funding was supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with SK Bioscience responsible for R&D, production, and regulatory approval, and IVI handling global clinical trials.
SkyTyphoid demonstrated excellent immunogenicity and safety through a global Phase 3 clinical trial conducted in Nepal. Based on this, it obtained final export approval from the Korea Food and Drug Administration in May, and plans to actively pursue global supply once it acquires WHO PQ certification.
The first domestically developed COVID-19 vaccine, 'SkyCovioneMulti,' is also a result of cooperation with IVI. SkyCovione, a synthetic antigen-based COVID-19 vaccine, underwent global clinical trials and analysis in collaboration with IVI, proving excellent immunogenicity and safety. SkyCovione has become an alternative for people hesitant to receive vaccines due to concerns about new technologies applied domestically, and is accelerating preparations for entry into the global market, including listing on the WHO Emergency Use Listing.
Jerome Kim, Secretary-General of IVI, said, "The partnership between SK Bioscience and IVI, which achieved the commercialization of two vaccines, is one of the most exemplary cases of global public-private cooperation to develop vaccines for global health." He added, "We deeply appreciate SK Bioscience's leadership, support, and generous assistance in advancing IVI's global vaccine R&D, and we will continue close cooperation in the future."
Choi Chang-won, Vice Chairman of SK Discovery, said, "The COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that responding to the next pandemic is impossible for companies, institutions, or governments alone." He added, "Strengthening cooperation with IVI will be a cornerstone for us to protect human health and happiness together through the advancement of the vaccine R&D environment."
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