South Korea-based SK bioscience has announced that it is the only private company to participate in the World Health Organization (WHO)-led joint research project aimed at establishing an International Standard Material for the SARS virus. The company has successfully completed the project, reinforcing its commitment to global infectious disease response efforts.
SK bioscience has demonstrated its leading R&D capabilities by successfully collaborating with international organizations to establish an International Standard Material (ISM) for the SARS (SARS-CoV-1) virus.
In October last year, WHO officially announced the International Standard Material for the SARS virus. Throughout this process, SK bioscience played a key role by conducting immunogenicity analysis research. The project involved 12 leading global health authorities and institutions, including WHO, the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), the US FDA, the UK MHRA, and China’s NIFDC, among others.
International Standard Materials serve as reference substances used to evaluate and compare the quality, safety, and efficacy of vaccines. Without such standards, it becomes challenging to validate the effectiveness of vaccines and therapeutics against infectious diseases. The newly established SARS virus International Standard Material is expected to play a crucial role in vaccine and therapeutic development efforts worldwide.
Previously, SK bioscience also participated in the WHO-led initiative to establish an International Standard Material for COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) in 2022.
As the world faces the ongoing threats of emerging infectious diseases and potential resurgences of existing ones, SK bioscience’s collaboration with WHO highlights the importance of innovative research and technological advancements in improving global health.
