SK Bioscience said that it exported the first batch of SKY Varicella, a chickenpox vaccine, to the Pan America Health Organization (PAHO), an international health organ under the United Nations.

Along with UNICEF, PAHO is one of the world's largest vaccine suppliers and is responsible for the large-scale supply of vaccines in Latin America.

In February, the Korean vaccine maker received PAHO's interim order for $31.27 million worth of SKY Varicella vaccines. Under the agreement, SK Bioscience will supply SKY Varicella to Latin American countries.

SK Bioscience confirmed the supply in the first half-year with the PAHO last month. The company expects to receive an additional supply request exceeding this year's provisional demand from PAHO in the second half.

SKY Varicella, commercialized in 2018, proved immunogenicity and efficacy in children between 12 months and 12 years through a multinational clinical trial that included Latin American participants. In 2019, it received the WHO prequalification (PQ), a requirement to become a supplier to international organizations.

"Based on globally recognized technology, our vaccines are gradually expanding into the international procurement market, including PAHO," SK Bioscience CEO Ahn Jae-yong said. "The company will expand its business portfolio to various areas, including a Covid-19 vaccine, a next-generation pneumococcal vaccine, an mRNA platform-based vaccine, and cell and gene therapy, to become a global company."

According to BrandEssence Market Research, a global market research institute, the global chickenpox vaccine market will grow from $3.21 billion in 2021 to 4.7 billion in 2028, with an annual average growth rate of 5.9 percent.