syringe administration, and they offer the prospect of reduced dosing. Vaxxas' user-friendly applicator facilitates simplified self-administration accommodating individuals with varying skill levels.

Vaxxas' innovation to reformulate vaccines for application on HD-MAPs and subsequent drying can prevent drug deterioration and improve vaccine stability. This could allow storing and distributing vaccines at room temperatures, which is vital for making vaccines more accessible in lower- and middle- income countries with limited cold-chain distribution infrastructure.

SKYTyphoid is a polysaccharide-protein conjugate (Vi-DT) vaccine, formulated by conjugating the polysaccharide of Typhi, which serves as an antigen, to diphtheria toxin protein, which serves as a carrier.

SK bioscience received funding to develop SKYTyphoid from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in the early stages of the development. Based on its immunogenicity and safety, SKYTyphoid obtained an approval for exportation from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in May 2022, and is expected to obtain WHO Prequalification this year.

Compared to a current polysaccharide vaccine, SKYTyphoid provides acceptable immunogenicity and long-term preventive effects with a single-dose administration. Furthermore, the vaccine can be administered to infants 6 months to 2 years of age.

Typhoid fever is a life-threatening infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi. It is usually spread through contaminated food or water. The disease continues to be a public health problem in many developing countries in Africa, Middle East, and Southeast where there is a continuing lack of clean water supply and lack of adequate sewage facilities.

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 9 million cases of typhoid fever occur globally each year. Symptoms include prolonged high fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, and constipation or diarrhea with mortality rates up to 30%.[1]

Pierre Balard, Senior Research Manager at Wellcome said, "To help protect more people at risk from deadly diseases like typhoid fever, new vaccine innovations are needed to improve access and ensure equitable coverage. Vaxxas' high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP) is an important step in this direction. With the potential to overcome some of the most enduring barriers to vaccine access in lower income countries, this product could be a vital addition to our global toolkit."

David L. Hoey, President and CEO of Vaxxas said "We are excited to be initiating this important work with Wellcome and SK bioscience to leverage our HD-MAP vaccine platform to potentially enhance typhoid vaccination. We believe our HD-MAP can play a critical role in extending the global reach of typhoid conjugate vaccines, and make a significant difference to the lives of many."

Jaeyong Ahn, CEO of SK bioscience said, "Typhoid fever is a dangerous disease that frequently occurs in low- and middle- income countries, but the utilization of typhoid vaccines has been limited due to the requirement for vaccines that remain stable under varying temperatures and those that can be administered without medical supervision. This collaboration with Vaxxas provides an opportunity to overcome those challenges. We will continue to develop various formulations and products that can contribute to human health based on cross-border cooperation with international organizations and institutions, such as Wellcome and Vaxxas."

About SK bioscience

SK bioscience is a global innovative vaccine and biotech company, standing committed to global pandemic preparedness in vaccine development and manufacturing to create more equitable access to vaccines. In leveraging strengths on cutting-edge vaccine development technologies, SK bioscience has been dedicated to promoting human health from prevention to cure across the globe. Under collaborations of domestic and international governments, regulatory agencies, healthcare providers, doctors and medical experts, SK bioscience has firmly established globally certified R&D and manufacturing technologies. All of the SK colleagues are passionately committed to providing high-quality vaccines to those who need them and better public healthcare solutions.

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