SK Bioscience announced on Thursday that it will receive funding for key projects it’s undertaking as a development partner. This follows a funding agreement between the global pharmaceutical giant MSD and CEPI to develop an Ebola vaccine.
The agreement stipulates that CEPI will provide MSD with $30 million in total. MSD will use these funds to support crucial project costs, including research and development, manufacturing process improvements, and clinical trial vaccine development. These tasks have been entrusted to SK Bioscience and the Hilleman Laboratories.
This project was initiated to address the complexities of the existing manufacturing process for MSD’s WHO-PQ-approved Zaire Ebola vaccine, which currently requires ultra-cold storage.
The goal is to enhance the vaccine’s yield and improve its thermal stability, thereby increasing supply stability and accessibility. This is particularly crucial given the frequent Ebola outbreaks in regions with limited medical and logistical infrastructure.
In this collaborative effort, Hilleman Laboratories will spearhead the clinical development of the improved Ebola vaccine. Meanwhile, SK Bioscience and IDT Biologika will focus on enhancing the bulk manufacturing process and related final product development.
As a key partner in this CEPI-funded global public vaccine project, SK Bioscience plans to leverage its expertise in vaccine production. The company will collaborate with its subsidiary, IDT Biologika, to produce clinical vaccines and advance manufacturing processes. This work will build on the capabilities developed at SK Bioscience’s Andong L HOUSE vaccine production facility.
The Zaire Ebola virus remains a high-risk pathogen, with only a 50% survival rate for those infected. Recent reports of outbreaks in African regions, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), have heightened international concern.
Ahn Jae Yong, CEO of SK Bioscience, emphasized the importance of global cooperation in addressing deadly infectious diseases such as Ebola, saying that with funding from Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, the company would play a pivotal role in vaccine development and production alongside its global partners. He added that SK Bioscience was committed to making a substantial contribution to global public health.