SK bioscience said on the 22nd that it will receive funding for the related project it is participating in as a development partner, after Merck (MSD) signed a funding contract with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) for the development of a Zaire ebolavirus vaccine.
Under the contract, CEPI will provide a total of $30 million to MSD, and MSD will use the funds to cover expense for research and development, manufacturing process improvements, and clinical trial vaccine development entrusted to SK bioscience and Hilleman Laboratories.
The public project was launched to improve the existing manufacturing process for MSD's Zaire Ebola vaccine, which is complex and requires ultra-cold storage. The core goal is to build a manufacturing process that increases Production yield and improves heat stability so it can be used even in regions with weak medical and logistics infrastructure.
Under the division of roles, Hilleman Laboratories will lead the clinical development of the improved vaccine, and SK bioscience and IDT Biologika will handle improvements to the drug substance manufacturing process and the development of the drug product.
SK bioscience will participate as an implementation partner for the public vaccine project funded by CEPI and will carry out clinical vaccine production and manufacturing process advancement based on the process and production capabilities accumulated at the Andong vaccine production facility "L HOUSE." During this process, it will also work in parallel with its subsidiary IDT Biologika.
The Zaire Ebola virus is a high-risk infectious disease with a fatality rate of about 50% upon infection, and recent resurgence cases have been reported in parts of Africa, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In regions with weak medical infrastructure, rapid response is difficult, making the stable supply of vaccines a critical challenge.
Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said, "With this support, MSD's Zaire Ebola vaccine will be able to be supplied more stably over the coming years."
SK bioscience has worked with CEPI, the Gates Foundation, and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to participate in multiple international public vaccine projects.