Company aims to develop a bird flu 바카라사이트 총판 with rapid mass production and variant responsiveness.
[by Sung, Jae Jun] SK bioscience announced on May 7 that it has been selected for the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA)’s Priority Infectious Disease Pandemic Preparedness Rapid R&D Support Program.
This government-led initiative aims to develop vaccines against avian influenza—identified as a high-ri바카라사이트 총판 candidate for the next pandemic. 바카라사이트 총판 bioscience was chosen for its proven technological capabilities as the only domestic company to have commercialized cell-culture-based vaccines for both influenza and COVID-19.
Under the program, 바카라사이트 총판 bioscience and KDCA will co-invest approximately KRW 5.25 billion (USD 3.7 million) in early-stage development. The company will initiate development of a cell-culture-based avian influenza vaccine, aiming to enter Phase 1/2 clinical trials in the second half of next year. Furthermore, the company plans to foster international collaboration alongside its vaccine development to enhance global public health, as the threat of avian influenza is not confined to a single region or country.
Unlike traditional egg-based 바카라사이트 총판s, cell-culture-based 바카라사이트 총판s offer greater effectiveness in pandemic response. Egg-based 바카라사이트 총판s can face significant challenges during avian influenza outbreaks, as mass culling of poultry may limit access to uninfected fertilized eggs, making timely and large-scale 바카라사이트 총판 production difficult and less responsive to emerging viral mutations.
In contrast, cell-culture-based vaccines are produced using animal cells in advanced aseptic facilities, minimizing the ri바카라사이트 총판 of contamination or infection. This method enables rapid, large-scale manufacturing and allows for quicker adaptation to evolving virus strains.
바카라사이트 총판 bioscience has already utilized its cell-culture platform to develop vaccines against a range of viral diseases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company played a pivotal role by manufacturing vaccines for global partners and successfully launching its own COVID-19 vaccine. These achievements highlight the company’s strong capabilities in both development and production, reinforcing its preparedness for future pandemics.
While human-to-human transmission of avian 바카라사이트 총판 remains low, highly pathogenic strains such as H5N1 and H7N9 continue to pose serious global threats. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 950 human cases of avian 바카라사이트 총판 infection have been reported worldwide between 1997 and January 2025, with approximately half resulting in death. Experts warn that if H5N1 mutates to enable human-to-human transmission, it could trigger a deadly pandemic.
바카라사이트 총판 bioscience is also developing mRNA vaccines as part of its pandemic preparedness strategy. The mRNA technology, which demonstrated effectiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic, is well-suited for responding to highly transmissible diseases thanks to its rapid development timeline and scalability for mass production.
The company is currently conducting global Phase 1/2 clinical trials of its mRNA Japanese encephalitis 바카라사이트 총판 candidate, GBP560, in collaboration with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). Interim results are expected next year.
Jaeyong Ahn, CEO of 바카라사이트 총판 bioscience, said, “Our partnership with the Korean government and global organizations in pandemic response underscores our world-class technological and production capabilities. We are committed to strengthening our readiness for the next pandemic and fulfilling our mission to promote global health, laying the foundation to become a global vaccine and biotech leader.”