image credit- freepik
South Korea-based SK bioscience, a global innovative vaccine and biotech company, has announced that, after entering into a license agreement with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it has initiated process development for an injectable rotavirus vaccine candidate.
Following successful process development, the company plans to advance the vaccine through subsequent clinical trials, regulatory approval, and ultimately, commercialisation.
Through the license agreement with CDC, SK bioscience has become the first Korean company to receive vaccine technology from the CDC. Previously, the CDC developed the injectable inactivated rotavirus vaccine technology and sponsored a Phase I clinical trial.
SK bioscience plans to rapidly implement this technology domestically, establishing a production process that simultaneously enhances vaccine efficacy and reduces costs, while advancing through clinical development and ultimately commercialization.
The project is further supported by the Research Investment for Global Health Technology Foundation (the RIGHT Foundation). SK bioscience signed a research and development funding agreement with the RIGHT Foundation for the rotavirus vaccine process in June 2025.
Rotavirus is a leading infectious disease that causes severe diarrhea and dehydration in children under five worldwide. According to Johns Hopkins University, approximately 24.4% of childhood deaths are due to diarrhea caused by rotavirus infection. With the introduction of rotavirus vaccines, infection rates have declined significantly in high-income countries, resulting in 99% of global rotavirus-related deaths being concentrated in low- and middle-income nations.
The introduction of oral rotavirus vaccines has significantly reduced infection rates in high-income countries, achieving over 85% vaccine effectiveness. However, in low- and middle-income countries, the vaccine effectiveness falls below 50% due to challenging environmental conditions and poor nutritional status.
