SK bioscience said on the 2nd that it was selected as a 2026 flu vaccine supplier by UNICEF and has begun shipping vaccines to Southern Hemisphere countries.
The company plans to expand supply to Northern Hemisphere countries starting in September. The supply volume within the year is about 640,000 doses and will be delivered sequentially in line with each country's vaccination schedule.
Target countries range from Southern Hemisphere nations such as Laos, Myanmar, and Fiji to Northern Hemisphere countries including Ethiopia, Lebanon, Albania, and Palestine. In particular, for the Southern Hemisphere volume, UNICEF selected SK bioscience as the sole supplier, entrusting it with the entire season's supply. The Northern Hemisphere volume was also awarded to the company as a major supplier, and it plans to supply a significant amount.
This order is the first supply contract that SK bioscience has signed with UNICEF. It is meaningful in that respect. Following its existing supply to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the company has secured UNICEF as a customer, establishing a supply system that spans the world's two largest public procurement markets.
Through this supply, SK bioscience expects to strengthen its year-round operation of production facilities and to build operational experience responding to differing flu seasons and vaccination demand in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres.
The cell-based flu vaccine "SkyCellflu" being supplied this time confirmed immunogenicity and safety through phase 3 clinical trials and became the world's first cell-based flu vaccine to receive prequalification (PQ) from the World Health Organization (WHO). Real-world evidence (RWE) studies also confirmed its preventive effectiveness in actual vaccination settings.
The cell-culture method has the advantage of a lower likelihood of viral mutation than egg-based production, which can improve the match with circulating strains. It also has a relatively short production period, earning recognition for enabling rapid supply in infectious disease crises such as pandemics.
SK bioscience has expanded its global health business base through flu vaccine supply via PAHO and collaborations with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
Ahn Jae-yong, president of SK bioscience, said, "This first order from UNICEF is a meaningful achievement that expands our entry into the global public procurement market," adding, "We will continue to strengthen cooperation with international organizations to contribute to global infectious disease response and public health improvement."
Meanwhile, SK bioscience is pushing to expand overseas approvals not only for its flu vaccine but also for the varicella vaccine "Sky Varicella." It recently obtained marketing authorization for the varicella vaccine in Vietnam and received new approval for its flu vaccine in Moldova. In addition, it is expanding its global business by securing approvals for key vaccine products in Thailand, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, and Chile.