SK Bioscience's shingles vaccine 'Skyzoster' has topped the market share rankings for the fourth consecutive quarter, setting a new record in the domestic market.
On the 29th, SK Bioscience announced that Skyzoster achieved the number one position in the domestic shingles vaccine market last year with a market share of 54% based on sales volume. According to IMS data, a global market research firm, Skyzoster recorded its highest-ever quarterly market shares of 51% in Q1, 52% in Q2, 56% in Q3, and 57% in Q4 last year.
Skyzoster is the world's second and South Korea's first shingles vaccine developed independently by SK Bioscience. Officially launched in 2017, Skyzoster achieved cumulative sales of 1 million doses within two years of market entry, based on its excellent safety and immunogenicity. Results from a Phase 3 clinical trial conducted on 824 adults aged 50 and over at eight institutions, including Korea University Guro Hospital, showed that antibody titers against the varicella-zoster virus increased 2.75 times after vaccination compared to before vaccination. Non-inferiority to the comparator vaccine was also demonstrated.
SK Bioscience explained that the safety of Skyzoster has also been proven. An investigation into the incidence of adverse reactions within six weeks after vaccination showed levels similar to those in the comparator vaccine group, and no serious adverse reactions related to Skyzoster were reported during the 26 weeks following vaccination.
Skyzoster is released in a 'prefilled syringe' form containing a single dose per injection, which SK Bioscience emphasized reduces the risk of contamination that can occur during separate dilution or aliquoting processes and makes administration more convenient. Another advantage is that only one dose of Skyzoster is required to reduce the risk of shingles occurrence and complications.
The pace of entry into overseas markets is also accelerating. After obtaining its first global approval in Thailand in May 2020, it recently received product approval from the Malaysian National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency last month. SK Bioscience plans to intensify its global market efforts by applying for the World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification within this year.
SK Bioscience President Ahn Jae-yong said, "As the world rapidly ages, the importance of shingles vaccination for the elderly, who are vulnerable, is increasing. We expect Skyzoster to play a leading role not only in human health but also in strengthening South Korea's vaccine sovereignty."
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