Initiating Development of a High-Immunogenicity Vaccine Platform
SK Bioscience is set to develop an influenza vaccine utilizing an adjuvant. In particular, the company aims to overcome the limitations of existing vaccines by developing a vaccine that induces a stronger immune response, especially in the elderly and individuals with weakened immune systems.
On July 17, SK Bioscience announced that it has submitted an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for a phase 1/2 clinical trial of its new influenza vaccine candidate, 'NBP607B,' which incorporates an adjuvant into its proprietary influenza vaccine 'Skycellflu.' This vaccine is being developed to enhance the preventive efficacy of existing vaccines by leveraging adjuvant technology.
NBP607B utilizes an adjuvant developed by 'VFI,' a Swiss non-profit vaccine research institute. Composed of various immune-boosting components, this substance is expected to induce sufficient immune responses and antibody production even in the elderly. Since 2023, SK Bioscience has proactively conducted preclinical studies on NBP607B and has already achieved successful results.
The phase 1/2 clinical trial for NBP607B will begin this year, in line with the influenza season in the Northern Hemisphere, targeting elderly participants both domestically and internationally. The trial will compare NBP607B to an already approved high-immunogenicity vaccine as a control, evaluating immunogenicity and safety in approximately 320 participants. Interim results are expected to be available by 2027.
This is the first time a domestic company has submitted a clinical trial plan for the development of a high-immunogenicity influenza vaccine utilizing an adjuvant. SK Bioscience plans to use the success of this vaccine as a platform to expand into other vaccines, while also establishing a differentiated competitive edge in the global high value-added vaccine market.
According to global market research firm Mordor Intelligence, the global vaccine market is estimated to reach approximately $83.9 billion (about 111 trillion won) in 2025 and is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 6.5%, reaching about $114.8 billion (about 142 trillion won) by 2030. In addition to this market outlook, experts predict that demand for high-immunogenicity vaccines targeting high-risk groups such as the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and those with chronic diseases will continue to increase in line with the trend of population aging.
SK Bioscience CEO Jae-Yong Ahn stated, "Given that Skycellflu has already demonstrated competitiveness in the market, and with our accumulated experience in developing vaccines utilizing adjuvants, the likelihood of success is very high. We will create a specialized market for high-immunogenicity products, and at the same time, expand this as a platform applicable to other vaccines, ultimately leading to the development of vaccines for various infectious diseases."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
