SK bioscience secures EU project for patch-type flu vaccine

SK bioscience said the company and its partners -- IDT Biologika (IDT) and Australia’s Vaxxas -- have been selected to run a phase 1 study for a next-generation vaccine development initiative managed by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) on behalf of the European Commission’s Health Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA).

SK bioscience’s Songdo Global R&D Center in Incheon (Courtesy of SK bioscience)

Using Vaxxas’ needle-free delivery technology, the three-party consortium will develop a patch-type vaccine for seasonal influenza in the elderly and pandemic avian influenza for all ages.

The project is part of the EU’s financial support framework aimed at enhancing the commercialization and supply capabilities of next-generation vaccines in Europe.

HaDEA will provide a total of 12.9 million euros, or approximately 22.2 billion won ($15.6 million), in funding for the initial phase of research, which includes phase 1 clinical trials.

If the development progresses to phase 3 and meets predefined technological and clinical milestones, the funding will be expanded to a maximum of 225 million euros.

The contract marks the first major global public funding secured since SK bioscience acquired IDT in 2024.

It also establishes a pathway for entry into the highly regulated European market by combining influenza vaccine development capabilities with Vaxxas’ high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP) technology.

Within the consortium, IDT serves as the European legal contracting entity and overall project lead, overseeing project management and coordination with European authorities. Upon commercialization, SK bioscience expects that IDT will function as a key manufacturing hub in Europe, including responsibility for drug substance production.

SK bioscience, leveraging its proprietary cell culture technology, will supply drug substance for both its licensed influenza vaccine, SKYCellflu, and a pandemic influenza vaccine currently under development.

Vaxxas will provide its HD-MAP technology, which enables high immunogenicity, and will be responsible for producing research patches for the phase 1 clinical trial.

The patch-type flu vaccine developed by the three companies aims to be a highly immunogenic product that induces a strong immune response with a small amount of antigen. SK bioscience expects the product to offer improved user convenience with a short application time and excellent thermal stability, which allows for room temperature storage.

Upon successful development, SK bioscience, together with its consortium partners, plans to pursue entry into major advanced markets, including European seasonal flu market, and explore additional business opportunities through exports to key markets such as Korea and the U.S., depending on global clinical outcomes.

“This project marks the first tangible business outcome following the acquisition of IDT, demonstrating how our combined global network and technological capabilities translate into performance,” SK bioscience CEO Ahn Jae-yong said. “We will continue to actively pursue opportunities for our proprietary vaccines in Europe and strengthen our competitiveness in the global market through innovative platforms.”

Vaxxas CEO David Peacock also said, “The successful tender reflects a shared ambition across the consortium and the European Commission to invest in alternative vaccine delivery technologies that simplify vaccination and enhance preparedness.”

The tender positions Vaxxas and its consortium partners at the forefront of global vaccination innovation, Peacock added.