SK Bioscience and Hilleman Lab Sign Pact To Improve Vaccine Access

SK Bioscience, an innovative vaccine and biotech company dedicated to promoting human health from prevention to cure, has announced a development licensing agreement with Hilleman Laboratories, a vaccines and biologics research and development organization dedicated to improving vaccine accessibility and affordability for low- and middle-income countries, for the joint development of a second-generation Zaire Ebola virus vaccine.

Hilleman Laboratories and SK bioscience will collaborate on the development of an improved second-generation Zaire Ebola virus vaccine candidate with the goal of increasing production process productivity and improving product thermostability that would potentially help increase the global Ebola vaccine supply and help expand access, as per SK bioscience. 

In close collaboration with Hilleman Laboratories, SK Bioscience will obtain unique experience and know-how for the application of the rVSV (recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Vector) technology platform to possibly jointly develop new vaccines against a variety of viral infectious disorders.

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a quickly progressing, severe, and transmissible hemorrhagic sickness caused by Ebola Virus (EBOV) infection. While six EBOV species have been discovered, the Zaire Ebola virus strain has been the primary source of outbreaks over the previous 20 years. Since the Ebola virus was identified in 1976, there have been several outbreaks that have resulted in severe loss of life (50% fatality rate) and economic effect.

Dr Raman Rao, CEO of Hilleman Laboratories said, "Developing vaccines that are more affordable and accessible is core to our mission at Hilleman Laboratories. Our collaboration with SK biosciences on such an impactful vaccine program will allow us to create positive outcomes for global public health, especially in affected regions of Central and Western Africa".