SK bioscience announced on Tuesday that it has secured a position as a supplier of influenza vaccines for the United Nations Children's Fund for 2026 and has commenced shipments to countries in the Southern Hemisphere. This marks the company's first-ever vaccine procurement contract with UNICEF, representing a significant step in its strategy within the global public procurement market.

Under the terms of the agreement, SK bioscience will supply approximately 640,000 doses of influenza vaccine within the year. Shipments to the Southern Hemisphere have already begun, with destinations including Laos, Myanmar, and Fiji. Deliveries for the Northern Hemisphere are scheduled to start in September, covering regions such as Ethiopia, Lebanon, Albania, and Palestine. Notably, the company has been selected as the sole supplier for UNICEF's Southern Hemisphere influenza vaccine program, providing the entire required volume for the season. It will also serve as a primary supplier for the Northern Hemisphere program, contributing a substantial volume of doses.

A key aspect of this contract is that it represents both SK bioscience's inaugural partnership with UNICEF and its first procurement project spanning both hemispheres. The company had previously established a supply relationship with the Pan American Health Organization. With UNICEF now added to its portfolio, SK bioscience has successfully gained access to two of the world's most significant international vaccine procurement channels. The company stated that this will enable its production facilities to operate year-round and help accumulate operational experience in managing different seasonal demands and vaccination schedules.

The vaccine being supplied under this contract is SKYCellflu, a quadrivalent influenza vaccine based on cell culture technology. This vaccine demonstrated favorable immunogenicity and safety in Phase III clinical trials and is the world's first cell-culture-based influenza vaccine to receive prequalification from the World Health Organization. Cell culture technology presents a lower likelihood of viral mutation during the production process, offers a better match to circulating strains, and has a shorter production cycle, allowing for a faster response during public health emergencies such as pandemics.

SK bioscience's CEO, Ahn Jae-yong, commented, "Securing this first UNICEF procurement contract is a milestone achievement in our expansion within the global public procurement market. We will continue to strengthen our collaboration with various international organizations. Based on a business model that balances commercial sustainability with public health value, we aim to contribute to the global response to infectious diseases and to public health initiatives."