April 20, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] SK Chemicals rolled out its herpes zoster vaccine in Korea on Dec. 20.

The launch of Skyzoster is forecast to shake up the local market for shingles vaccines, worth 80 billion won (US$70 million), and lead to a showdown with the US pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co.’s Zostavax.

Zostavax has so far been the only vaccine proven to treat shingles, which typically shows up as a painful rash that develops on the body as a result of the reactivation of the zoster virus. It sometimes develops into nerve pain that can last for months or even years.

The approval for Skyzoster by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety was completed in October.

SK Chemicals claimed that increased efficacy means its drug will represent an improvement over Zostavax and will eventually increase vaccination rates against shingles, which remain relatively low.

The global market for shingles vaccine currently stands at around 1.13 trillion won.

By Alex Lee and newswires (alexlee@heraldcorp.com)