The vaccine will be manufactured at L HOUSE, SK bioscience’s vaccine manufacturing plant.

“We will continue to promote human health and achieve sustainable growth through global collaborations,” said SK bioscience.

SK bioscience announced that the company has signed a Manufacturing agreement with MSD for production of a next-generation Zaire Ebola virus vaccine candidate.

Min soo, Park, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Sanat Chattopadhyay, Executive Vice President of MSD, Raman Rao, CEO of Hilleman Labs, Chang Won Chey, the vice-chairman of SK discovery, Jaeyong Ahn, CEO of SK bioscience, and Hoon Kim, the representative of Global R&BD were present at the signing ceremony.

Building on MSD’s approved Zaire Ebola virus vaccine, ERVEBO®, MSD is developing a next-generation Zaire Ebola virus vaccine candidate with Hilleman Laboratories Singapore with the goal of increasing production process productivity and improving product thermostability that, if approved, may help increase the global Zaire Ebola virus vaccine supply and help expand access. Once the technology transfer is finished, the vaccine candidate will be manufactured at SK bioscience’s improved L HOUSE facilities and, subject to approval by relevant health authorities, be supplied to global partner organizations to support outbreak response efforts.

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a rapidly progressive, severe and transmissible hemorrhagic illness caused by infection with one of the Ebola Virus (EBOV) species. While there are six identified EBOV species, the Zaire ebolavirus strain has been the leading cause of outbreaks over the last 20 years. Ever since the Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976, there have been multiple outbreaks resulting in significant loss of lives and economic impact.

Min soo Park, Vice Minister from Ministry of Health and Welfare said, “For the growth and development of the biopharmaceutical industry, it is very important to promote cooperation between companies and establish its innovative ecosystem. The Korean government is seeking various support measures, such as regulatory innovation and governance establishment, to promote cooperation between companies. We hope that this contract will continue a friendly cooperative relationship between MSD, Korea, and SK bioscience.”

Sanat Chattopadhyay, executive vice president and president, MSD Manufacturing Division said, “At MSD, we continue to seek innovative solutions to help expand access and help make our vaccines available when needed to people around the world” and added, “This agreement with SK bioscience, as part of our strong global manufacturing network, may enable us to further assist the global community in its response to future outbreaks of the Zaire Ebola virus.”

Chang won Chey, vice chairman of SK discovery said, “This collaboration between SK bioscience and MSD is a remarkable achievement driven by our manufacturing capacity and global network built during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to promote human health and achieve sustainable growth through global collaborations.”

Starting with this manufacturing agreement, SK bioscience will expand its CMO and C(D)MO business. Based on the capabilities proven by contract manufacturing experiences of virus vaccines, SK bioscience plans to further expand the C(D)MO business to quickly respond to new pandemics and promote equitable access of vaccines for public health. In addition, SK bioscience plans to secure new platforms such as mRNA and Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) to promote the C(D)MO business.

Separately, the ‘Global R&PD Center,’ which SK bioscience will establish in Songdo, Incheon area through the largest investment ever since its launch, will include a ‘Pilot Plant’ to enhance its competitiveness in the C(D)MO market.

The pilot plant, a small-scale test facility utilized before introducing a new method or a product will have facilities to carry out research tasks for CGT, mRNA, and viral vectors.