$3.7 Million Funds Bird Flu Vaccine with Mass Production and Variant Responsiveness

While human-to-human transmission of avian influenza remains low, highly pathogenic strains such as H5N1 and H7N9 continue to pose serious global threats. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), if H5N1 mutates to enable human-to-human transmission, it could trigger a deadly pandemic.

Various avian influenza vaccines have been developed, and new, innovative technologies are being tested to address this global threat.

SK bioscience today announced that it has been selected for the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA)- led initiative to develop vaccines against avian influenza, which has been identified as a high-risk candidate for the next pandemic.

Under the new program, SK bioscience and KDCA will co-invest approximately $3.7 million in early-stage development.

The company stated on May 6, 2025, that it will initiate development of a cell-culture-based avian influenza vaccine and aim to enter Phase 1/2 clinical trials in the second half of 2026.

The company says cell-culture-based vaccines offer greater effectiveness in pandemic response than traditional egg-based vaccines. Egg-based vaccines can face significant challenges during avian influenza outbreaks, as mass culling of poultry may limit access to uninfected fertilized eggs, making timely and large-scale vaccine production difficult and less responsive to emerging viral mutations.

In contrast, cell-culture-based vaccines are produced using animal cells in advanced aseptic facilities, minimizing the risk of contamination or infection. This method enables rapid, large-scale manufacturing and quicker adaptation to evolving virus strains.

SK bioscience has already utilized its cell-culture platform to develop vaccines against various viral diseases.

In the United States, various avian influenza vaccines have been supported by the U.S. FDA over the past few years.