SK bioscience, a global innovative vaccine and biotech company committed to promoting human health from prevention to cure, and global healthcare leader Sanofi are strengthening their partnership to jointly target the preventive medicine market in Korea and abroad.

On January 23, SK bioscience announced that it had signed a co-promotion and distribution agreement with Sanofi Korea (hereafter referred to as Sanofi) for the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) preventive antibody injection Beyfortus® and the hepatitis A vaccine Avaxim®. The contract period runs until the end of next year and may be extended upon mutual agreement. This agreement expands upon the distribution deal signed last year for five pediatric vaccines, including DTaP combination vaccines.

Approved in April last year in Korea, Beyfortus® is expected to bring significant changes to the RSV preventive medicine market by allowing all infants, not just high-risk groups, to receive protection during their first RSV infection season. RSV is one of the most common viral causes of respiratory infections, such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis, in infants. It is also a leading cause of hospitalizations among infants. Approximately 90% of infants worldwide are infected with RSV before the age of two, and early infections are associated with longer recovery times and higher risks of asthma, emphasizing the importance of prevention and early treatment.

Beyfortus® is the only RSV preventive medicine available for all infants during their first RSV season. It offers a single-dose regimen with a minimum five-month protection period, covering the entire season. In 2023, it achieved €547 million (approximately KRW 821 billion) in global sales.

Avaxim®, a hepatitis A vaccine manufactured in accordance with WHO recommendations, is widely used worldwide due to its high safety and efficacy. It has demonstrated excellent effectiveness in preventing hepatitis A.

Earlier in March last year, SK bioscience and Sanofi signed a distribution agreement for pediatric DTaP combination vaccines (Tetraxim®, Pentaxim®, and Hexaxim™), the adolescent and adult Tdap combination vaccine Adacel Prefilled Syringe®, and the meningococcal vaccine Menactra®. Notably, the six-in-one combination vaccine Hexaxim™ was officially included in the National Immunization Program (NIP) this year, further expanding its market presence. Hexaxim™ provides comprehensive protection against six infectious diseases (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio, and invasive diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b) and is the global market leader, holding a 67% share in the six-in-one combination vaccine category.With this expanded agreement, SK bioscience aims to solidify its position as a leading vaccine provider in the Korean market while strengthening its partnership with Sanofi. Leveraging the R&D, production, and sales collaboration framework established with Sanofi, SK bioscience is also accelerating its entry into the global market. The two companies have been conducting Phase 3 clinical trials for a 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine since 2014. Additionally, at the end of last year, they signed a new agreement to jointly develop next-generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccines with broader protection for infants, children, and adults.

Heekyung Park, Head of Vaccines at Sanofi Korea, stated, "We are pleased to supply a variety of vaccines to the Korean market, including Beyfortus®, an RSV antibody injection for all infants under one year of age, through our strategic partnership with SK bioscience, a leading company in the Korean vaccine market. Sanofi will continue its efforts to reduce the societal burden of infectious diseases and improve the preventive healthcare environment for infants and adults in Korea."

Jaeyong Ahn, CEO of SK bioscience,remarked, "The co-promotion and distribution agreement for Sanofi products represents a significant step toward providing disease prevention benefits to both infants and adults, thereby enhancing public health. We will continue to collaborate with Sanofi, a global leader in the vaccine market, to jointly target both domestic and international markets."