SK Bioscience and Sanofi Partner to Develop Next-Generation Pneumococcal Vaccine
Upfront Payment of 75.5 Billion KRW; Targeting the 14-Trillion KRW Market
On the 23rd, SK Bioscience and Sanofi announced they had signed a joint development agreement for a next-generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that offers broader protection than currently available products.
This agreement builds on their previous collaboration on GBP410, a 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine candidate, and expands their scope to develop an even more advanced vaccine.
Under the agreement, SK Bioscience will receive an upfront payment of 50 million euros (approximately 75.5 billion KRW) from Sanofi and additional milestone payments upon reaching various development stages.
The two companies will equally share vaccine research and development costs, while Sanofi will bear all commercialization-related expenses. After commercialization, SK Bioscience will handle sales in Korea, while Sanofi will manage global distribution. Revenue from product sales will be shared based on a pre-determined ratio.
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, known for their superior efficacy, play a critical role in preventing pneumococcal diseases, accounting for 94% of global pneumococcal vaccine sales as of last year.
According to Evaluate Pharma, a global pharmaceutical market research firm, the pneumococcal vaccine market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7%, expanding from 11.9 trillion KRW in 2023 to 14.2 trillion KRW by 2028. By targeting this market, SK Bioscience aims to secure new growth engines and solidify its position as a global leader in vaccines and biotechnology.
At the same time, GBP410, the 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine jointly developed by SK Bioscience and Sanofi, has entered Phase 3 clinical trials after starting dosing last week. The trials will involve approximately 7,700 infants, children, and adolescents aged six weeks to 17 years, comparing GBP410’s immunogenicity and safety against already-approved pneumococcal vaccines over up to four doses.
GBP410 is the first vaccine candidate to include more than 20 serotypes among those in Phase 3 clinical trials for infants. It is expected to significantly reduce the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), a major health concern for young children.
Thomas Triomphe, Executive Vice President of Sanofi Vaccines, stated, “We are thrilled to extend our collaboration with SK Bioscience to address the high unmet demand for vaccines preventing invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD). By combining our expertise, we aim to develop advanced vaccines to alleviate the global burden of pneumococcal diseases.”
Ahn Jae-yong, CEO of SK Bioscience, commented, “Our decision to begin developing a vaccine beyond GBP410 while advancing its Phase 3 clinical trials reflects the high likelihood of success for the 21-valent vaccine, favorable market outlook, and strong mutual trust between SK Bioscience and Sanofi.”