Global Influenza Vaccine Company Seqirus Launches Domestic Corporation

Yu Gi-seung, CEO of Sequirus Korea, is introducing Sequirus Korea at the launch press conference held on the afternoon of the 16th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] Global vaccine company Seqirus has officially launched its Korean subsidiary, Seqirus Korea, and is stepping up active domestic marketing.

On the afternoon of the 16th, Yoo Ki-seung, CEO of Seqirus Korea, said at the launch press conference, "As a public health partner in Korea, we will be on the front lines to protect the safety of the people from influenza (flu)," adding, "We will do our best to quickly introduce and supply Seqirus's various vaccines in Korea."

Seqirus is a flu vaccine specialist company with production facilities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Netherlands, supplying influenza vaccines worldwide. Seqirus Korea, the Korean subsidiary, currently distributes the egg-based quadrivalent flu vaccine 'Afluria,' which can be administered to children and adolescents aged 5 and older as well as adults in Korea.

At the press conference, Seqirus Korea warned that the domestic flu vaccination rate has significantly dropped recently due to COVID-19 and cautioned about a potential flu pandemic following the COVID-19 pandemic. Professor Song Jun-young of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital explained, "During 2019-2020, the flu epidemic did not occur due to strengthened social distancing measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic," adding, "As a result, herd immunity against the flu weakened, and when social distancing is eased, a larger-scale flu epidemic may occur, raising concerns about increased severe cases."

Professor Song continued, "Although the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to gradually subside, the possibility of a 'twindemic,' where COVID-19 and the flu spread simultaneously, is high," emphasizing, "Since distinguishing between COVID-19 and the flu may become more difficult, flu vaccination is even more important."

Seqirus Korea plans to sequentially introduce enhanced quadrivalent flu vaccines and cell-based quadrivalent flu vaccines, which complement the existing egg-based vaccine Afluria, following the launch of the subsidiary.

Jonathan Anderson, Head of Global Medical Affairs at Seqirus, addressed recent controversies over the low efficacy of flu vaccines by mentioning factors such as the weakened immune system of adults aged 65 and older, differences between the 'vaccine strain' included in the vaccine and the 'circulating strain' expected to spread that year, and the possibility of vaccine strain mutations during the egg-based manufacturing process. He highlighted the importance of enhanced vaccines and cell-based vaccines.

Anderson explained, "As aging progresses, immune responses tend to decrease," adding, "When the MF59 adjuvant is used, antigen responses are broad and strong." Regarding cell-based vaccines, he emphasized their necessity by stating, "They reduce problems caused by the egg-based manufacturing method and can show a higher match rate of vaccine strains compared to egg-based vaccines."

Seqirus is further developing vaccines that combine adjuvant technology, cell-based technology, and high-dose vaccine technology, which delivers antigens at a high dose. Anderson said, "We will soon begin Phase 3 clinical trials targeting elderly subjects," and added, "We are also developing messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccines."

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