- The two companies are committed to a life-time partnership for vaccines for

   everyone from infants to adults.
- Taking advantage of the development and distribution expertise of the world’s

   largest vaccine producer, MSD
- Overseeing the domestic handling of MSD’s entire range of vaccine products, the

   first alliance of its kind

In connection with the release of the world’s first vaccine for cervical cancer, Gardasil®, as well as a vaccine for rotavirus gastroenteritis, Rotateq®, in the domestic market, SK chemicals (Chairman and CEO Kim Chang-geun) announced on April 9 that it had formed a strategic alliance on vaccine sales and marketing with the global pharmaceutical maker Merck & co.’s Korean subsidiary, Korea MSD (CEO Mark Timney).

Under this agreement, SK chemicals will be responsible for ordering and distributing MSD’s vaccine products, managing their inventories, and overall customer services. MSD Korea (MSD hereafter) will undertake to supply vaccines, to develop marketing strategies, to promote products to medical professionals, and to educate salespeople.

This is the first time that MSD has formed a partnership encompassing its entire range of vaccine products with a Korean pharmaceutical maker.  

MSD has recently developed three innovative vaccines including the vaccine Gardasil® for cervical cancer caused by Human papillomaviruses (HPV), as well as the vaccine Rotateq® for rotavirus gastroenteritis, and the vaccine Zostavax® for herpes zoster. 

Gardasil®, the world’s first vaccine for cervical cancer, prevents cervical cancer, pre-cancer in the pudenda and vagina, low-level pre-cancerous lesions caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18, and genital warts. This cutting-edge new drug, which was selected last year as “The Lifesaver of the Year” by the US Business Week and as the “2006 Invention of the Year” by the Canadian issue of Time, will be released in the domestic market in 2007. It is expected to achieve blockbusting sales.

The vaccine Rotateq® for rotavirus gastroenteritis is for infants and young children. 

Under this alliance, SK chemicals will offer patients a global-standard convenience system including pre-information on an inoculation service. It will also provide medical teams with patient management, real-time vaccine inventory management, demand forecasts and other comprehensive vaccine-related services through automated systems including customer call centers. 

SK chemicals’ Life Science CEO Shin Seung-kwon said, “We are pleased that SK chemicals can share its know-how in marketing and distribution in the vaccine business with MSD. This alliance is expected to further develop the domestic vaccine market.” 

MSD president Mark Timney said, “Through this alliance, we expect to provide premium vaccines to patients, and to improve the vaccine management methods used in hospitals. We will continue to develop innovative vaccine products to improve the quality of life of all patients.”

Both companies expect to combine MSD’s outstanding products with SK chemicals’ superior marketing and distribution capabilities, and to provide premium vaccine services to domestic patients and medical professionals, thereby maximizing customer satisfaction.

<Product description>

1. Gardasil® : the world’s first cancer vaccine to prevent cervical cancer caused by 4-value Human papillomaviruses (HPV), pre-cancer in the pudenda and vagina, low-level pre-cancerous lesions caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18, and genital warts.

2. Rotateq® : a 5-value live oral vaccine against rotavirus gastroenteritis intended for infants and young children.

<Company Overview>

MSD Korea

MSD Korea is a Korean branch of Merck & Co. which was established in 1891. Merck operates under the name of Merck Sharp & Dohme or MSD in many countries.