By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo
SK bioscience announced on February 28 that it has successfully secured additional orders for its self-developed chickenpox vaccine in the largest international procurement market in Latin America.
This order comes as a result of prior notification from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), a UN agency, to supply its chickenpox vaccine, 'SkyVaricella,' to the Latin American region through 2027. The order was secured during PAHO's preliminary bidding process, and depending on the volume of orders from PAHO, SK bioscience will supply the chickenpox vaccine to the Latin American market.
Since successfully securing its first order in PAHO’s chickenpox vaccine bid in 2022, SK bioscience has built trust in the Latin American market through stable supply over the past three years. PAHO, along with UNICEF, is one of the largest vaccine purchasers in the world, responsible for large-scale vaccine procurement on behalf of Latin American countries. The 'SkyVaricella,' which has received WHO Prequalification (PQ) certification—a prerequisite for PAHO's bidding—was the second vaccine globally to achieve PQ certification in 2019, facilitating its entry into the Latin American market.
Launched in 2018, 'SkyVaricella' has demonstrated immunogenicity and efficacy in children aged 12 months to 12 years through global clinical trials. Notably, it has shown superior antibody levels and comparable safety levels compared to vaccines from major global pharmaceutical companies, and it is produced at a GMP-certified facility in Andong, ensuring supply stability.
Building on its competitive edge in vaccine supply through PAHO for six consecutive years, SK bioscience plans to expand exports to other regions, including Southeast Asia.
According to the latest report by market research firm Market Research Intellect, the chickenpox vaccine market is projected to grow at an average annual rate of approximately 6.3%, reaching around $5.76 billion (approximately 8.3 trillion KRW) by 2031. The importance of vaccine supply through international organizations is particularly increasing in emerging markets such as Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
In addition to the chickenpox vaccine, SK bioscience is expanding its overseas market presence through various self-developed vaccines, including the flu vaccine 'SkyCellflu,' the shingles vaccine 'SkyZoster,' and the typhoid vaccine 'SkyTyphoid.' These vaccines are currently undergoing or have completed national approvals and are set to expand their market reach through export contracts and bid-winning initiatives.
Furthermore, the 21-valent pneumococcal vaccine, jointly developed with Sanofi, is currently undergoing phase 3 clinical trials with a goal for global launch, and its successful introduction is expected to further enhance SK bioscience's competitiveness in the global market, including in developed countries.
