SK bioscience invests $3 M in US-based FinaBio specialising in next-gen conjugate vaccine technology

South Korea-based SK bioscience has signed an agreement to acquire a stake in Fina Biosolutions, a promising R&D biotechnology company based in Rockville, Maryland, United States, by investing $3 million. With this acquisition, SK bioscience will become FinaBio's first and sole strategic investor.

FinaBio specialises in the research and development of conjugate vaccines for pneumoniae, meningococcal, typhoid, and other diseases. Among other assets, FinaBio has developed FinaXpress, a proprietary E. coli expression system which they use for producing proteins not previously made in these bacteria, including many carrier proteins like CRM₁₉₇. Marketed as EcoCRM, FinaBio has expanded access to this critical protein.

FinaBio is also developing a next-generation conjugation technology that is site-specific and targets the desired location for antigen binding, hence boosting immunogenicity and productivity.

SK bioscience, which already manufactures conjugate vaccines such as pneumococcal and typhoid vaccines, will actively utilize FinaBio's CRM₁₉₇ technology. It aims to secure the high effectiveness of diverse conjugate vaccines while increasing profitability through high-yield processes.