SK Bioscience to produce MSD’s new Ebola vaccine candidate

SK Bioscience Co., the drug-making unit of South Korea’s SK Group, announced on Monday that it has signed a contract with MSD, a global pharmaceutical company based in the United States, to start consignment production of next-generation Zaire Ebola vaccine candidate.

MSD is currently developing next-generation Zaire Ebola vaccine candidate that would improve the process efficiency and safety of the existing Zaire Ebola vaccine, Ervebo, in collaboration with Hilleman Laboratories, the international non-profit research organization.

SK Bioscience will receive the technology for this vaccine candidate and plans to produce them at its Andong L House vaccine center in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province.

Zaire Ebola has been identified as the main cause of Ebola disease for the past 20 years among the six known species of Ebola viruses.

"In order to promote the growth and development of the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, it is crucial to enhance cooperation between companies and establish an innovation ecosystem," Park Min-soo, the Second Vice Minister of Health and Welfare said. "I hope that this contract will serve as an opportunity for continued friendly cooperation between MSD, the South Korean government, and SK Bioscience."

"This collaboration is the outcome of SK Bioscience's production capabilities and global network, which have been recognized across the world through the COVID-19 pandemic," Vice President of SK Discovery Choi Chang-won said. "It will serve as an important milestone in our efforts to contribute to the promotion of public health." 

Write to Min Su Han at hms@hankyung.com