SK bioscience’s new varicella vaccine, ‘SKYVaricella®’ will be administered, starting on the 19th nationwide

The acceptable immunogenicity and safety profile are verified via clinical trials at home and abroad

SK bioscience announced that the company has launched a new vaccine, ‘SKYVaricella.’

The company, which proved its R&D competence through development of the world’s first quadrivalent cell culture-based influenza vaccine and the Korea’s first herpes zoster vaccine, now advanced into the chickenpox vaccine market.

SK bioscience explained that lot release process of SKYvaricella, which has acquired marketing approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety(KMFDS), is completed and the vaccine will be distributed to hospitals across the nation on the 19th.

Chickenpox is a contagious infection caused by varicella-zoster virus.

According to the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of people infected with varicella zoster virus increased by 48.2% from 2016 (54,060) to 2017 (80,092), which underlines the importance of prevention.

Since 2005, infants aged from 12 to 15 months are subjects for free varicella vaccine administration under the National Immunization Program (NIP).

SK bioscience confirmed the high immunogenicity of the vaccine in a Phase III clinical trial conducted at 19 domestic and overseas institutions. Manufactured in L HOUSE, a vaccine plant in Andong, the vaccine can be supplied in a swift and stable manner.

Jaeyong Ahn, CEO of SK bioscience, “We are again able to contribute to promote the health of Korean citizens. We also plan to accelerate advancing toward the vaccine market overseas.”