The South Korean vaccine developer and manufacturer is already producing Novavax’s authorized protein-based COVID-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid (NVX-CoV2373), from its vaccine plant in Andong for the South Korean market and the EU. It also has non-exclusive rights for the product in Thailand and Vietnam.
Now, Novavax is developing an Omicron-specific vaccine, which it expects to make available later this year. SK bioscience has signed an agreement for the technology transfer of Novavax proprietary COVID-19 variant antigen materials and manufacturing drug substance for the new vaccine.
In addition, SK bioscience will manufacture and supply the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine in prefilled syringe, already loaded with the vaccine for injection. The company will prepare the manufacturing process this year for commercial supply of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine in prefilled syringe in 2023.
Stanley C. Erck, President and CEO, Novavax, said, “Clinical data generated to-date demonstrate that the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine offers broad immune responses including against circulating variants, such as the Omicron BA.5. We are accelerating our clinical program on Omicron BA.5 and look forward to working with SK bioscience to bring this vaccine to market.”
Preclinical data on Omicron BA.5 will be available in the late summer or fall.
The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is the fifth vaccine officially approved in South Korea, and recently became the fourth vaccine to receive emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
