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GC Biopharma, a South Korean biopharmaceutical company, has signed an agreement with Curevo Vaccine to secure contract manufacturing (CMO) rights for amezosvatein (CRV-101), a recombinant shingles vaccine currently under clinical development.
Under the terms of the agreement, GC Biopharma will be responsible for producing a portion of the commercial supply of amezosvatein for global markets.
The global shingles vaccine market is currently dominated by GSK's Shingrix. Since its launch in 2018, the market has grown at an average annual rate of approximately 20%, expanding from KRW 1 trillion in 2017 to around KRW 6 trillion (~$4.4 billion) in 2024. Shingrix recorded over KRW 5 trillion (GBP 3.4 billion) in global sales last year, capturing more than 90% of the market.
Amezosvatein is an adjuvanted recombinant protein vaccine, similar in format to Shingrix, but uses a synthetic adjuvant designed to reduce local (injection-site pain) and systemic (influenza-like) reactions after vaccination to levels typical of conventional vaccines. The company believes this feature could position the product as a differentiated alternative with a superior tolerability profile.
Currently, Curevo Vaccine is conducting an expanded Phase 2 study in 640 adults aged 50 and older. The company aims to complete this trial by 2026 and move directly into Phase 3, paving the way for global commercialisation.
