SK Bioscience has new goals for its Covid vaccine

SK Bioscience researchers conduct tests at the company's lab. [SK BIOSCIENCE]

SK Bioscience is trying to find new uses for GBP510, its Covid-19 vaccine candidate, as a booster shot or a vaccine for adolescents.

The company submitted an application to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to start Phase 3 clinical trials of the drug as a booster shot. The trials will be conducted on 750 adults who received two shots of GBP510 in Phase 3 clinical trials.

Participants will receive an additional booster shot three months after their second jabs. The safety and efficacy of the booster shot will be tested by 16 institutions across the country including Korea University Guro Hospital.

The Pangyo, Gyeonggi-based vaccine maker also plans trials on adolescents in the first half of this year.

Earlier in the week, SK Bioscience signed a 200-billion-won ($165 million) deal with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency for supplies of GBP510. The contract is for 10 million adult vaccine doses.

GBP510 is currently undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials. SK Bioscience is working on proving its effectiveness against variants including Omicron. It hopes to get marketing approval from the Korean government, as well as emergency use approval from the World Health Organization as early as in the first half of this year, SK Bioscience said.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]