SEOUL - SK Bioscience Co., a South Korean biotechnology firm, has announced a collaboration with Hilleman Laboratories to develop a second-generation vaccine against the Zaire Ebola virus. This partnership aims to combat one of the deadliest strains of the Ebola virus.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Under the memorandum of understanding, SK Bioscience and Hilleman Laboratories will work together on the vaccine's development, focusing on enhancing its production process and thermostability. This collaboration is expected to bolster the global vaccine supply against the Zaire Ebola strain. Once approved for market release, SK Bioscience will manufacture the vaccine at its facility in Andong for worldwide distribution.
SK Bioscience CEO Ahn Jae-yong emphasized the importance of developing vaccines for high-fatality diseases like Zaire Ebola as a crucial step in safeguarding humanity. The Korean company also plans to gain expertise in recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vector technology, which will be applied not only to the Ebola vaccine but also to other vaccines targeting various viral infectious diseases.
Raman Rao, CEO of Hilleman Laboratories, expressed optimism about the partnership's potential impact on global public health, particularly in Central and Western Africa, where Ebola is prevalent. Currently, only two Ebola vaccines, Ervebo by Merck & Co. and Zabdeno by Johnson & Johnson, have been commercialized. Hilleman Laboratories, a joint venture between MSD and the Wellcome Trust, was established in 2009.