Novavax Collaborates with SK bioscience for COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate

Novavax announced on August 13, 2020 that it is entering into a development and supply agreement with SK bioscience, a vaccine business subsidiary of SK Group, for the antigen component of NVX-CoV2373, Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate, for supply to global markets. The companies have also signed a letter of intent with the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare to provide access to the vaccine candidate for the global market as well as to make the vaccine available in South Korea.

Through the agreement, SK bioscience will manufacture the vaccine antigen component for use in the final drug product at its vaccine facility in Andong L-house, South Korea, a Novavax press release said. Production is set to begin in August 2020.

Novavax has also partnered with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) for the development and manufacture of NVX-CoV2373, according to the press release. If the vaccine derived from the antigen coming from SK bioscience is deemed safe and effective, it will be distributed by the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility.

"We are proud to partner with SK bioscience to fulfill our commitment to ensure global supply of NVX-CoV2373 in alignment with our partnership with CEPI,” said Stanley C. Erck, president and CEO of Novavax, in the press release. “SK bioscience shares our sense of urgency to ensure broad and equitable access for our COVID-19 vaccine candidate around the world.”

"SK's accumulated vaccine R&D and production capability has been spotlighted by the world's most advanced global pharmaceutical companies as well as the global initiatives for the COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing and supply such as CEPI," added Jaeyong Ahn, CEO of SK bioscience, in the press release. "We will cooperate with the government supporting its two-track strategy, developing vaccine in Korea and securing COVID-19 vaccine from a global manufacturer in a short period of time."

Source: Novavax