●SK Initiates R&D in Response to New Infectious Diseases “Boosting Development of Vaccine Platforms for Mutant Viruses”

- SK bioscience utilizes its background in respiratory illness vaccine development to foster preventive technology
- Equipped with all-weather vaccination manufacturing facilities capable of providing against breakout ‘fevers’ by new viruses


SK has initiated steps to foster vaccine development platform technologies that enable prompt response to newly spreading mutant viruses such as new coronaviruses, MERS, and SARS.

SK bioscience (CEO Ahn Jae-Yong) revealed on the 24th that R&D has been initiated to secure a vaccination manufacturing technology platform that can be quickly applied during an outbreak of a new virus.

New infectious diseases will be dealt with by the company’s technological capabilities, which established a milestone for respiratory illness vaccine development, initially through commercialization of the world’s first cell culture-based quadrivalent influenza vaccine and the development of the 13-valent protein-carrier conjugated pneumococcal vaccine in 2016, followed by the launch of global clinical trials for next-generation pneumococcal vaccines with global pharmaceutical companies in 2018.

SK bioscience, in pushing forward with its development for a MERS vaccine, submitted a patent application for “The protein immunogen composite for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS) and its manufacturing method” in 2017.

The core of this platform technology delivers a high level of safety with its consideration for the versatility and high pathogenicity of viruses, allowing for a consistent process to be used for quick and successful vaccine development, even with the emergence of a mutant strain of a respiratory infectious virus.

SK bioscience will utilize its proven molecular biological skills in △cell culture △germ culture △gene recombination △protein conjugation and skills in manufacturing various vaccines, along with △antigen protein design △gene synthesis and cloning △vector manufacturing and protein purification to successfully carry out its tasks.

A system capable of mass manufacturing as soon as a new vaccine is developed has also been established through the vaccine factory, Andong L House, which boasts one of the world’s premier facilities in both equipment and size.

Just as the development of this technology is imperative in securing the health of humanity, SK bioscience is actively connecting with health authorities and related institutions.

The company has completed the application for the KCDC’s (Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) coronavirus-related national project “Development of manufacturing and evaluating new coronavirus immune antigen.”

Business meetings are underway with foreign and domestic institutions for close cooperation in manufacturing, commercialization processes, and supply of vaccines to be developed for preventing new infectious diseases in the future.

SK bioscience CEO Ahn Jae Yong stated, “The technology is being sought under the social responsibility that a vaccine company must confront viruses threatening humanity.” He added, “Developing vaccines is a challenging task with many obstacles, so active cooperation and investments from both public and private sectors are needed.”

SK bioscience, a subsidiary of SK chemicals since July 2018, specializes in self-development and production of vaccines such as the first domestic trivalent cell culture-based influenza vaccine SKY Cellflu and the world’s first quadrivalent cell culture-based influenza vaccine SKY Cellflu Quadrivalent, the world’s second shingles vaccine SKY Zoster, and the second domestic chickenpox vaccine SKY Varicella.



* Photo Description: A researcher at SK bioscience is conducting R&D to develop vaccines.