SK Bioscience partners with IDT Biologika to modernize Ebola vaccine production

SOUTH KOREA—SK Bioscience has signed a contract with IDT Biologika to develop and manufacture the drug product for a Zaire Ebola vaccine, using an updated manufacturing process.

The project is a joint effort with MSD (Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA) and Hilleman Laboratories and draws on approximately USD 30 million in funding from CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

The collaboration targets two key challenges with MSD’s existing Zaire Ebola vaccine: complex manufacturing requirements and the need for ultra-cold storage.

By boosting manufacturing yield and improving the vaccine’s temperature stability, the partners aim to make the vaccine easier to produce and more widely accessible.

Dividing the work

Under the agreement, SK Bioscience will handle drug substance production, while IDT will apply its contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) expertise and advanced facilities to lead drug product development and manufacturing.

This division of responsibilities reflects the deeper operational integration that has been taking shape since SK Bioscience acquired IDT.

Since the acquisition, SK Bioscience has leveraged the partnership to improve manufacturing efficiency and reduce costs, helping return IDT to profitability.

The Ebola vaccine agreement now deepens that relationship further.

Growing role in global health initiatives

Besides this project, SK Bioscience and IDT have recently been chosen together for Phase 1 of a new vaccine development program led by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), which is working on behalf of the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA).

That initiative focuses on developing a high-immunogenic seasonal influenza vaccine for older adults, as well as a patch-based pandemic influenza vaccine—both aimed at strengthening Europe’s pandemic preparedness.

With these two significant project wins, IDT is moving beyond its traditional CDMO role to become a central node in SK Bioscience’s global development and manufacturing network.

What the leaders are saying

Dr. Sally Choe, CEO of IDT Biologika, highlighted the collaboration as a reflection of the companies’ strong partnership and shared ambition to build an integrated global manufacturing network.

Jinseon Park, COO of SK Bioscience, added that the combined capabilities of both companies will sharpen their ability to execute global infectious disease response projects and meet international public health needs reliably.

SK Bioscience’s broader pipeline

Alongside the Ebola vaccine work, SK Bioscience is running a global Phase 3 trial of its 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (GBP410) in partnership with Sanofi and is active in pandemic preparedness programs with CEPI and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

The company is also advancing an RSV preventive monoclonal antibody (RSM01) and research into broadly protective coronavirus vaccines.