The Return of SK Bioscience, the 'Flu Vaccine No.1'... Ilyang Also Makes a Comeback with the 'Lowest Price'

The procurement contract for influenza (flu) vaccines used in the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's '2023~2024 Influenza National Immunization Support Project' has been completed. SK Bioscience, which had not produced flu vaccines while focusing on COVID-19 vaccine production, succeeded in securing the largest volume contract, and Ilyang Pharmaceutical, which was eliminated in last year's bidding, also succeeded in returning by securing the top qualification with the lowest bid price.

SK Bioscience's influenza vaccine 'Skycellflu'
[Photo by SK Bioscience]

On the 13th, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced that the procurement contract for vaccines needed for the influenza national immunization support project was completed on the 12th. Accordingly, the total vaccine procurement volume purchased by the government this time is 11.21 million doses, which was decided through a demand survey of local governments in April and May based on the target population for vaccination, the vaccination volume in the previous season, and the target vaccination rate for this season.

The procurement contract companies were selected in order of lowest price, and if the prices were the same, the order was determined by the volume offered. A total of six companies?Ilyang Pharmaceutical, Sanofi, Boryung Biopharma, SK Bioscience, Korea Vaccine, and Green Cross?will supply the vaccines at prices ranging from 10,100 to 10,700 KRW, including distribution costs and VAT.

Among them, Ilyang Pharmaceutical, which offered the lowest contract unit price of 10,100 KRW, will supply 1.7 million doses, and SK Bioscience will supply the largest quantity of 2.42 million doses at a unit price of 10,650 KRW. Other companies will supply as follows: Sanofi at 10,373 KRW for 2 million doses, Boryung Biopharma at 10,650 KRW for 1.6 million doses, Korea Vaccine at 10,686 KRW for 1.75 million doses, and Green Cross at 10,700 KRW for 1.74 million doses.

Meanwhile, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency explained that, excluding about 2,000 pediatric clinics that purchase vaccines individually as in the previous year, vaccines will be supplied in kind to vaccination institutions such as public health centers and entrusted medical institutions according to local government demand, which will greatly help resolve supply imbalances between regions and entrusted medical institutions. In addition, they plan to ensure safe vaccination by conducting on-site inspections of storage facilities and transportation equipment before delivery begins for procurement companies or distribution consignment companies.

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