SK Bioscience Begins Development of COVID-19 Variant Vaccine with CEPI Support

Secured 16 Billion KRW Research and Development Funding from CEPI

SK Bioscience employees are inspecting COVID-19 vaccines produced at Andong L House. (Photo by SK Bioscience)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] SK Bioscience is embarking on the development of a COVID-19 variant virus vaccine after securing funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). Additionally, it will receive further support for process development costs aimed at the commercial production of the COVID-19 vaccine.

On the 11th, SK Bioscience announced that it will receive up to $14.2 million (approximately 16 billion KRW) in research and development funding from the international non-governmental organization CEPI. The funds will be used to secure vaccines for the prevention of variant viruses by utilizing the development platform of the COVID-19 vaccine 'GBP510,' which is currently undergoing clinical trials. Furthermore, SK Bioscience will also receive up to $12.5 million (approximately 14.1 billion KRW) in process development costs to scale up the GBP510 process to commercial production levels.

With this, SK Bioscience has secured a total of $40.3 million (approximately 45.4 billion KRW) in development funds related to GBP510, including candidate discovery and preclinical support funds from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and CEPI’s existing Phase 1/2 clinical trial support funds.

Jae-yong Ahn, CEO of SK Bioscience, said, "We are pleased to collaborate once again with CEPI for the research and development of a COVID-19 variant virus vaccine," adding, "By utilizing the vaccine platform that is progressing smoothly, we will be able to complete research on the mutated virus quickly."

This support was made to more broadly respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 variant viruses. SK Bioscience plans to establish a comprehensive response system against the COVID-19 virus based on its global technological capabilities. It will also continue discussions with CEPI and others regarding cooperation plans for Phase 3 clinical trials and commercialization stages, aiming for the successful development of GBP510.

GBP510 is a COVID-19 vaccine candidate jointly developed last year by SK Bioscience and the Antigen Design Institute at the University of Washington in the United States. It was selected as a recipient of support under CEPI’s next-generation COVID-19 vaccine development project, 'Wave2.' Following its selection in Wave2, GBP510 will be supplied worldwide through the COVAX Facility upon completion of development.

In particular, through this CEPI support, SK Bioscience plans to secure vaccines against COVID-19 variant viruses discovered in South Africa and other regions using the same base technology as GBP510. Once vaccine candidates for COVID-19 variant viruses are developed, research will also be conducted on booster shots?vaccines administered in addition to existing vaccines?and multivalent vaccines that prevent two or more types of viruses.

Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, stated, "To bring efforts to an early end to the pandemic to fruition, rapid response to the spread of COVID-19 variant viruses is necessary," adding, "CEPI intends to implement a five-year long-term plan to reduce the risks of infectious diseases and pandemics, including COVID-19, and urgent investment in research and development (R&D) to optimize core strategies and technologies is required."

Meanwhile, SK Bioscience has accelerated development as GBP510 recently entered Phase 1/2 clinical trials with the cooperation of global pharmaceutical companies such as GSK. Another COVID-19 vaccine candidate under development, 'NBP2001,' is also undergoing clinical trials. SK Bioscience is contract manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines for AstraZeneca and Novavax, and has secured the rights to produce and sell the 'NVX-CoV2373' vaccine domestically through a technology transfer agreement with Novavax.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.