One To Watch

SK bioscience

A South Korea-based vaccine company that develops, manufactures and commercializes prophylactic vaccines for infectious diseases. The company combines in-house vaccine R&D and large-scale production with co-development and licensing partnerships to broaden its portfolio and global reach.

Headquarters and Global Presence

SK bioscience is based in South Korea. In January 2026, it began operating from a new Global R&PD Center in Songdo, Incheon, positioned as a consolidated hub for research and process development. Its core vaccine manufacturing footprint includes the L HOUSE facility in Andong, which has been expanded to support late-stage and commercial-scale supply.

Founding and History

SK bioscience was spun out of SK chemicals in 2018, building on vaccine development and production capabilities established within SK chemicals from 2008. The company is listed on the KOSPI and has developed into an integrated vaccine player with both proprietary programs and partner-linked manufacturing and commercialization activity.

Therapy Areas and Focus

SK bioscience focuses on vaccines and infectious disease prevention. Key areas include:

Routine pediatric and adult immunization categories
Pneumococcal disease (next-generation conjugate vaccines)
Influenza and respiratory virus prevention
Pandemic preparedness and broader coronavirus coverage
Other infectious diseases addressed through prophylactic vaccination strategies

Technology Platforms and Modalities

SK bioscience operates across multiple vaccine modalities, including:

Conjugate vaccines (including pneumococcal programs)
Recombinant protein vaccines
Cell-culture and egg-based influenza manufacturing platforms
mRNA vaccine development (including disclosed work in Japanese encephalitis)

The company’s operating model combines internal development with co-development, in-licensing and distribution agreements.

Strategic Partnerships

Partnerships are central to SK bioscience’s portfolio strategy. Key collaborations include:

Sanofi: co-development of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, including GBP410 (21-valent pediatric candidate) in Phase III
Novavax: collaboration history spanning COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing and commercialization rights in selected Asian markets
CEPI and global health stakeholders: pandemic preparedness initiatives, including broader coronavirus vaccine work
Sanofi Korea: commercial distribution and co-promotion arrangements in South Korea, including RSV prevention (Beyfortus)

FAQ Section

SK bioscience develops and manufactures vaccines and infectious disease prevention products. It operates as an integrated vaccine developer with internal R&D and manufacturing, supplemented by licensing and co-development partnerships.

The company focuses on infectious diseases preventable through vaccination, including pneumococcal disease, influenza and other respiratory infections, and emerging pathogens linked to pandemic preparedness.

Key disclosed development programs include:

GBP410: 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine candidate (Phase III; with Sanofi)
GBP511: pan-sarbecovirus (universal coronavirus) vaccine candidate (Phase I/II initiated in Australia)
mRNA Japanese encephalitis vaccine candidate (clinical development initiation disclosed in 2025)

Recent milestones include:

Start of operations at the Songdo Global R&PD Center (January 2026)
Continued Phase III progression of GBP410 with Sanofi
Early-stage clinical execution for GBP511 and additional pandemic preparedness-related initiatives
Manufacturing scale-up and operational expansion tied to long-term vaccine supply ambitions

Public communications have recently emphasized development and operational milestones (trial initiation, late-stage progression, facility expansion). Detailed efficacy datasets are generally communicated through scientific venues, registries or partner disclosures depending on the program.

Near-term milestones are driven by clinical execution and regulatory progression for late-stage pneumococcal development, continued early-stage clinical evaluation of GBP511, and further advancement of mRNA and other next-generation vaccine candidates.

SK bioscience positions itself as a vertically integrated vaccine company combining scalable manufacturing with an expanding pipeline, using partnerships with multinational pharma and global health organizations to accelerate development and extend commercial reach.

Want to Update your Company's Profile?