SK bioscience said on Feb. 5 that it has taken part as a key private-sector partner in a pandemic preparedness tabletop exercise aimed at strengthening international cooperation for future global health emergencies.
The exercise, known as the “Korean 100 Days Mission” tabletop drill, was hosted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and brought together major domestic and international health organizations, including Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the International Vaccine Institute.
The drill simulated the full response cycle to a hypothetical outbreak of a novel infectious disease, from early detection and decision-making to vaccine development and supply. Participants reviewed governance structures and public-private collaboration frameworks under pandemic conditions, assessing Korea’s overall preparedness strategy.
Around 100 global health experts attended the exercise, including CEPI Chief Executive Officer Richard Hatchett, along with officials from KDCA, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and IVI. Discussions focused on practical cooperation measures to achieve the “100 Days Mission,” a global health security initiative that aims to develop and deploy critical countermeasures such as vaccines within 100 days of the emergence of a new pathogen.
SK bioscience has accumulated extensive experience in next-generation vaccine development and large-scale manufacturing through collaborations with CEPI and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company’s development of the SKYCovione COVID-19 vaccine is cited as a successful example of a public-private-international partnership model, providing a foundation for future coordinated pandemic responses.
At the same time, SK bioscience is accelerating efforts to strengthen its internal capabilities for the next pandemic. The company is advancing mRNA vaccine platform development validated during the COVID-19 response, working on broadly applicable coronavirus vaccines, and conducting research into avian influenza vaccines, which are considered a potential future pandemic threat.
Ahn Jae-yong, chief executive officer of SK bioscience, said effective pandemic preparedness depends on a balance between international cooperation and strong in-house capabilities. He added that SK bioscience will continue to build on its experience working with governments and global partners, as well as its vaccine research and manufacturing expertise, to make meaningful contributions in future pandemic situations.
