SK bioscience dedicates pneumococcal vaccine production facility in Andong

SK bioscience said Monday that it held a ceremony to celebrate the expansion of its pneumococcal vaccine production facility at “L HOUSE,” its vaccine production plant in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province.

The expanded facility was built to serve as a production base for GBP410, a 21-valent pneumococcal vaccine (PCV21) candidate being co-developed with global pharmaceutical giant Sanofi.

Key Sanofi executives and senior managers from France and the U.S., including Thomas Triomphe, senior vice president of Sanofi's vaccines business, attended last Friday’s dedication ceremony.

The two companies see the expansion as a tangible outcome of their strategic partnership, not just an expansion of infrastructure. They will further strengthen their collaboration to ensure the successful completion of future global launches. In addition, the companies will accelerate the development of the next-generation pneumococcal vaccine project, which was expanded last December, to further their joint efforts to secure a strong position in the global pneumococcal vaccine market.

"Following the initiation of the PCV21 phase 3 clinical trial, the completion of this manufacturing facility is another significant milestone in our collaboration with SK bioscience," Sanofi Vice President Triomphe said. “I would like to thank everyone on both teams for their hard work and dedication to this achievement. Together, we are taking important steps to make a meaningful difference in the fight against pneumococcal disease.”

SK bioscience CEO Ahn Jae-yong said, “Today's ceremony is more than just a celebration of the facility's completion, but also a confirmation of the trust and cooperation that SK bioscience and Sanofi have built over the past 11 years. Based on our close partnership with Sanofi, we will continue to accelerate our global expansion under the motto of ‘One Team, One Goal.’”

With this expansion, SK bioscience has expanded its existing vaccine production building at L HOUSE, securing a new space of about 4,200 square meters (1,300 pyong). The facility will serve as a production base for GBP410, a 21-valent pneumococcal vaccine candidate. It will be equipped with cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice) certification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

GBP410, which is being co-developed with Sanofi, is currently in a global phase 3 clinical trial in Australia, the U.S., and Korea, enrolling more than 7,700 infants, children (aged six weeks), and adolescents (aged 17 years). GBP410 is the first vaccine candidate to enter a phase 3 clinical trial in infants and young children, which includes more than 20 serotypes and is expected to make a significant contribution to reducing the frequency of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), a serious health problem in this age group.

According to the World Health Organization, about 700,000 children under five die of pneumonia worldwide, of which 300,000 are due to pneumococcal disease. As pneumococcal disease is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable death in this age group, the demand for vaccines that provide broader protection, including GBP410, continues to grow.

By combining SK bioscience's superior technology and production capabilities with Sanofi's successful expertise in developing and commercializing innovative vaccines, the two companies plan to expand their share of the global market rapidly.