South Korea-based SK bioscience, and global healthcare leader Sanofi, are strengthening their partnership to jointly target the preventive medicine market in Korea and abroad.
SK bioscience has signed a co-promotion and distribution agreement with Sanofi Korea for the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) preventive antibody injection Beyfortus and the hepatitis A vaccine Avaxim. The contract period runs until the end of next year and may be extended upon mutual agreement. This agreement expands upon the distribution deal signed last year for five pediatric vaccines, including DTaP combination vaccines.
Approved in April last year in Korea, Beyfortus is expected to bring significant changes to the RSV preventive medicine market by allowing all infants, not just high-risk groups, to receive protection during their first RSV infection season.
Beyfortus is the only RSV preventive medicine available for all infants during their first RSV season. It offers a single-dose regimen with a minimum five-month protection period, covering the entire season. In 2023, it achieved €547 million (approximately KRW 821 billion) in global sales.
Avaxim, a hepatitis A vaccine manufactured in accordance with WHO recommendations, is widely used worldwide due to its high safety and efficacy. It has demonstrated excellent effectiveness in preventing hepatitis A.
Earlier in March last year, SK bioscience and Sanofi signed a distribution agreement for pediatric DTaP combination vaccines (Tetraxim, Pentaxim, and Hexaxim), the adolescent and adult Tdap combination vaccine Adacel Prefilled Syringe, and the meningococcal vaccine Menactra. Notably, the six-in-one combination vaccine Hexaxim was officially included in the National Immunisation Programme (NIP) this year, further expanding its market presence.
With this expanded agreement, SK bioscience aims to solidify its position as a leading vaccine provider in the Korean market while strengthening its partnership with Sanofi. Leveraging the R&D, production, and sales collaboration framework established with Sanofi, SK bioscience is also accelerating its entry into the global market. The two companies have been conducting Phase 3 clinical trials for a 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine since 2014. Additionally, at the end of last year, they signed a new agreement to jointly develop next-generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccines with broader protection for infants, children, and adults.
