SK Bioscience and CDC to develop an injectable rotavirus vaccine

Joint investment with the RIGHT Foundation in process development… will develop a process to improve efficacy and productivity.

“We will contribute to public health through continuous innovation and global collaboration.”

SK Bioscience is partnering with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop an injectable rotavirus vaccine. Through collaboration with a global public health institution, the company aims to secure next-generation vaccine technologies and respond to growing vaccine demand, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

On the 9th, SK Bioscience announced that it had signed a licensing agreement with the CDC for the development of an injectable rotavirus vaccine.

SK Bioscience headquarters in Songdo

Under the agreement, SK Bioscience will acquire technology for the CDC’s injectable inactivated rotavirus vaccine candidate and carry out process development aimed at improving manufacturing productivity. Once process development is completed, the company plans to proceed with subsequent clinical trials, regulatory approval, and eventual commercialization.

The CDC has already developed the injectable inactivated rotavirus vaccine technology and completed a Phase I clinical trial. Building on this technology, SK Bioscience intends to accelerate development by establishing manufacturing processes that improve vaccine efficacy while reducing production costs.

Research and development expenses will be jointly funded with a global health foundation. In June of last year, SK Bioscience signed an agreement with the RIGHT Foundation to receive support for process-development R&D costs related to the vaccine.

The RIGHT Foundation is a public-private nonprofit organization established through joint funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Korean government, and domestic life sciences companies. The foundation supports R&D projects aimed at reducing the burden of infectious diseases in low- and middle-income countries.

Rotavirus is one of the leading infectious diseases causing severe diarrhea and dehydration in children under the age of five. According to research from Johns Hopkins University, approximately 24.4% of child deaths worldwide are associated with diarrhea resulting from rotavirus infection.

Although currently available oral rotavirus vaccines demonstrate preventive efficacy over 85% in developed countries, their effectiveness reportedly falls below 50% in low- and middle-income countries with poor nutritional status and sanitation conditions. As a result, there has been a growing demand within the global health community for injectable vaccines capable of overcoming the limitations of oral formulations.

The market is also experiencing strong growth. According to global market research institution Business Research Insights, the worldwide rotavirus vaccine market is expected to expand from approximately USD 8.1 billion in 2024 to USD 13.9 billion by 2033, representing an annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 6.2%.

Annual procurement rose from approximately 900,000 doses in 2011 to 57 million doses in 2023, while demand from countries supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is expected to reach approximately 64 million doses by 2028.

UNICEF's procurement of rotavirus vaccines has been steadily increasing. The procurement volume, which stood at approximately 900,000 courses in 2011, grew to 57 million courses in 2023. Furthermore, the demand from countries supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is projected to reach approximately 64 million courses by 2028.

Jaeyong Ahn, President&CEO of SK Bioscience, stated, “We are honored to be able to contribute to solving global public health challenges based on innovative technology developed by the CDC. Working together with the RIGHT Foundation, we will continue developing innovative vaccines that improve the health of children in low- and middle-income countries and fulfill our role and contribute to advancing the global public health paradigm.”