GC Biopharma announced on the 16th that its chickenpox vaccine "Varicella" has obtained approval from the Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV).
Varicella is a live vaccine developed in-house using the "MAV/06" strain by GC Biopharma. It features high virus content and a high yield, and is the world's first chickenpox vaccine produced without antibiotics through an aseptic process. Vaccines are generally divided into inactivated vaccines, which are killed by heat or chemicals after culturing viruses or bacteria, and live vaccines, which have had their toxicity significantly reduced.
GC Biopharma received a Prequalification (PQ) from the World Health Organization (WHO) following the domestic approval of Varicella in 2020. With this, the company is accelerating its efforts for approvals in various countries alongside international procurement agency bidding.
Chickenpox is a highly contagious acute infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, but it can be effectively prevented through vaccination. A single chickenpox vaccination is recommended at 12 to 15 months of age.
As the vaccine is intended for children, the quality certification of the vaccine is particularly important. GC Biopharma noted that the results of local clinical trials conducted for this product approval have demonstrated the safety and immunogenicity of the product.
The company plans to generate annual fixed revenue through direct sales via its local branch, considering the vaccine distribution structure primarily in the private market in Vietnam.
The private vaccine market in Vietnam grew at an average annual rate of 32% from 2018 to 2021, and chickenpox vaccines account for 10% of the approximately $300 million (4.163 trillion won) private market as of 2021. As demand for private vaccinations grows, the vaccination rate is also continuously on the rise.
Lee Jae-woo, head of the development department at GC Biopharma, said, "This product approval is an achievement that reflects a localization strategy beyond simple exports and will serve as a foothold for expansion into the Southeast Asian market," adding, "We will strengthen our position as a trusted vaccine brand in line with global standards for clinical and quality levels."