South Korea-based SK bioscience had received prior notification from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), a specialised agency of the United Nations in charge of international health cooperation in the Americas, to supply its self-developed varicella vaccine, SKYVaricella, to Latin America through 2027.
SK bioscience first won a PAHO contract for varicella vaccines in 2022, and has maintained stable supply over the past three years. PAHO is one of the world´s largest vaccine purchasers alongside UNICEF, procuring large-scale vaccine supplies for Latin American countries. To participate in PAHO tenders, vaccines must obtain the Prequalification (PQ) certification from the World Health Organization (WHO). SKYVaricella obtained WHO PQ certification in 2019, becoming only the second varicella vaccine globally to receive this qualification, paving the way for its entry into the Latin American market.
SKYVaricella, first commercialised in 2018 in South Korea, has demonstrated strong immunogenicity and efficacy in children aged 12 months to 12 years in global clinical trials. The vaccine has shown robust antibody responses and a comparable safety profile to the PQ-certified varicella vaccine from a leading global pharmaceutical company. It is produced at the Andong L HOUSE, the company’s certified Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) production facility, ensuring a stable and reliable supply.
Building on its six-year track record of supplying its varicella vaccines to PAHO, SK bioscience plans to expand its exports to Southeast Asia and other regions.
According to a report by Market Research Intellect, the global varicella vaccine market is projected to grow at an annual rate of approximately 6.3%, reaching $5.76 billion (about KRW 8.3 trillion) by 2031 based on the expanding government immunisation programmes and rising vaccine demand. Particularly, in emerging markets such as Latin America, Asia, and Africa, where reliance on international organizations for vaccine procurement continues to increase.
SK bioscience is expanding its global footprint with a diverse portfolio of independently developed vaccines, including SKYVaricella, SKYCellflu, SKYZoster, and SKYTyphoid. The company is also jointly developing the 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, which has entered global Phase 3 clinical trials. Once successfully launched, it will result in strengthening its competitiveness in global vaccine market, including the US and Europe.
