April 30, 2024

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The influenza vaccine SKYCellflu, developed by SK bioscience (SK bioscience)

SK bioscience, a pharmaceutical affiliate under South Korea's SK Group, said Thursday the company has exported its influenza vaccine to Thailand as part of efforts to expand its business presence in the southeast Asian market.

The company has shipped around 440,000 doses of SKYCellflu, a cell-cultured influenza vaccine, to its Thai partner Biogenetech, according to SK bioscience.

The vaccine contains the composition of influenza virus recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for this year's influenza season in the southern hemisphere.

Thailand is affected by the WHO's guidelines for pandemic flu strains both in the southern and northern hemisphere due to its geographical features, SK bioscience said.

The Korean biotech company said it will work to expand its vaccine sales to the broader southern hemisphere market, including Southeast Asia.

SKYCellflu is the world's first cell-culture based influenza vaccine to obtain WHO pre-qualification (PQ) certification, according to the company.

The certification means the vaccine has been certified for safety and efficacy under strict evaluation on the manufacturing process, quality and clinical trial results by the WHO.

With the WHO-PQ, the company can make a bid for public procurement projects of organizations under the United Nations, such as the United Nations Children's Fund.

"The export of SKYCellflu to Thailand serves as a stepping stone for entering the Southeast Asian and southern hemisphere markets and expanding into the global market." SK bioscience CEO Ahn Jae-yong said, adding the company will work to develop more vaccines with "blockbuster potential." (Yonhap)