SK bioscience said it secured additional orders for SKYVaricella, its proprietary varicella vaccine, from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), a UN-affiliated international organization.

PAHO, alongside UNICEF, is one of the world's largest vaccine procurement entities, overseeing large-scale vaccine supplies for Latin American nations.

The company said it received prior notification from PAHO to supply its varicella vaccine to Latin America through 2027. The quantity of vaccines to be supplied will be determined once PAHO announces its procurement volume.

SK bioscience initially entered the Latin American market in 2022 after securing its first PAHO tender for varicella vaccines.

To participate in PAHO’s bidding process, manufacturers must obtain the stringent WHO Prequalification (PQ) certification. SKYVaricella achieved PQ certification in 2019, becoming the second varicella vaccine worldwide to earn this qualification, solidifying its foothold in the Latin American market.

First commercialized in 2018, SKYVaricella demonstrated strong immunogenicity and efficacy in global clinical trials for children aged 12 months to 12 years. The vaccine’s effectiveness was confirmed by using a WHO PQ-certified varicella vaccine from a global pharmaceutical company as a comparator, showing superior antibody responses and comparable safety levels.

With six consecutive years of vaccine supply through PAHO, SK bioscience plans to leverage this success to expand exports to other regions, including Southeast Asia.

According to a recent report by global market research firm Market Research Intellect, the varicella vaccine market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 6.3 percent, reaching an estimated $5.76 billion by 2031.