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South Korea-based SK bioscience has announced that together with IDT Biologika (IDT) and Australian biotechnology company Vaxxas, it has been selected for Phase 1 of 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).
Using Vaxxas' needle-free delivery technology, the three-party consortium will develop a seasonal influenza vaccine for older adults and pandemic influenza vaccine for broader populations.
This contract is one of three EU-funded framework contracts, valued at up to a total of €225 million and aimed at strengthening next-generation vaccine commercialisation and supply capabilities within Europe.
HaDEA will provide up to €12.9 million to support Phase 1 research, including a Phase 1 clinical trial. Subject to successful technical validation and clinical outcomes, the Consortium could tender to progress through subsequent phases of the programme to support Phase 3 and final-stage development.
The contract is particularly meaningful as it represents the first major global public funding secured following SK bioscience's acquisition of IDT, and continues the company's close collaboration with high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP) pioneer Vaxxas. It also establishes a pathway for entry into the highly regulated European market by combining influenza vaccine development capabilities with Vaxxas' 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 commercialisation, IDT is expected to 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. SK bioscience will also collaborate with Vaxxas for the clinical development, with Vaxxas manufacturing HD-MAP vaccines.
