SK bioscience, a vaccine and biotech company, has made an equity investment in Novavax, a global company developing protein-based vaccines with its Matrix-M adjuvant, securing 6.5 million shares of common stock through a private placement.

SK bioscience’s strategic equity investment comes at a time when the two companies aim to transition from a CMO/CDMO partnership formed during the pandemic to a long-term synergistic relationship.

Along with the equity investment, SK bioscience and Novavax have extended their current license agreement, adding Novavax’s updated COVID-19 vaccine, which is currently under development for annual vaccination. SK bioscience will obtain exclusive rights to Novavax’s COVID-19 variant vaccine in South Korea and non-exclusive rights in Thailand and Vietnam to supply and commercialize the vaccine.

SK bioscience will manufacture and commercialize drug substance and vaccine products (including pre-filled syringe products at L HOUSE) utilizing Novavax’ variant strain antigens and Matrix-M adjuvant.

John Jacobs, President, and CEO of Novavax said, “This agreement is grounded in a productive multiyear relationship through which the companies have come to know each other’s strengths well. SK bioscience’s significant decision to invest in Novavax reflects their confidence in our scientific and commercial expertise, and the potential to increase value for both companies and their stakeholders. We look forward to evolving our relationship to focus on commercialization and identifying strategic future opportunities while we continue to pursue our shared goal of delivering life-saving vaccines in the region.”

Jaeyong Ahn, CEO of SK bioscience said, “We believe that the strategic equity investment and the continuous cooperation between SK bioscience and Novavax, which are among the few companies that focused on developing COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, will create powerful synergy. SK bioscience is focused on developing a successful global cooperative model in terms of company growth, health promotion, and response to the next pandemic.”

Through the enhanced partnership, SK bioscience will explore potential future collaborations with Novavax such as utilizing the Novavax’s Matrix-M adjuvant. Novavax is also developing a COVID-Influenza combination, stand-alone influenza, and high-dose COVID-19 vaccine candidates.