French pharmaceutical major Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY) and South Korea-based SK bioscience (KRX: 302440) have announced an expansion of their partnership to develop, license, and commercialize next-generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) targeting both pediatric and adult populations.
Milestone in Pediatric Vaccine Development
Their existing agreement, which aimed to develop and commercialize a PCV21 pediatric vaccine, reached a significant milestone with the commencement of a Phase III clinical study last week. This study marks the first PCV containing more than 20 serotypes to enter a Phase III clinical study in infants and toddlers, showcasing the potential advancement in vaccine technology.
Financial Terms and Global Commercialization Strategy
Following the expansion of their partnership, Sanofi will share research and development costs with SK bioscience. Sanofi has committed to an upfront payment of EUR 50M to SK bioscience, to be followed by development and commercial milestone payments. Upon registration, Sanofi will be responsible for the global commercialization of the vaccines, excluding South Korea, where SK bioscience will retain commercial exclusivity. SK bioscience is also set to receive royalty payments on product sales outside of South Korea, ensuring a mutually beneficial collaboration.-Fineline Info & Tech
