SK bioscience, Gates Foundation discuss expanded global health collaboration during Bill Gates’ Korea visit

SK bioscience said it held a private meeting with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on Wednesday in Yeouido, Seoul, coinciding with the visit of the foundation’s co-chair Bill Gates to Korea, to discuss expanded collaboration for global health initiatives.

Executives from SK bioscience and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pose for a photo after their meeting at Yeouido, Seoul, Wednesday. From left are Head of Public Health Business Development at SK bioscience Youn Hyun-jun; Senior Advisor at the Gates Foundation Isabel Torres; President of Global Health at the Gates Foundation Trevor Mundel; Vice Chairman of SK discovery Andrew Chey; CEO of SK bioscience Ahn Jae-yong; Deputy Director of Global Health at the Gates Foundation Cara Carrubba; and Head of Marketing and Business Development at SK bioscience Park Jin-seon. (Photo courtesy of the RIGHT Foundation)

The meeting brought together key figures from the Gates Foundation, including Trevor Mundel, President of Global Health of the Gates Foundation, along with other key foundation representatives, as well as Andrew Chey, Vice Chairman of SK discovery, and Ahn Jae-yong, CEO of SK bioscience.

According to the company, the two sides reaffirmed their long-term partnership and agreed to broaden the scope of cooperation based on ongoing joint vaccine development and public health projects.

Discussions also centered on next-generation vaccine research and development, particularly efforts to prepare for future pandemics.

SK bioscience and the Gates Foundation have maintained a partnership since 2013, working on typhoid, pediatric enteritis, and other vaccines, as well as antiviral prevention projects.

Their collaboration produced Korea’s first locally-developed Covid-19 vaccine in 2022, which was successfully commercialized. Bill Gates and Trevor Mundel personally visited Korea that year to mark the milestone and met with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Vice Chairman Chey.

SK bioscience said it will continue to partner with leading global organizations to improve public health and expand vaccine access worldwide.