SK Bioscience, South Korea’s leading vaccine developer, has achieved a significant legal victory by winning the final appeal at the Supreme Court against the American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer in a patent dispute over pneumococcal vaccines.
This ruling not only affirms the company's technological capabilities but also opens new market opportunities and marks a pivotal turning point for the domestic vaccine industry’s competitiveness and independent market entry.
On October 21, SK Bioscience announced that the Supreme Court dismissed Pfizer’s claims, confirming the previous rulings that SK’s ‘13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13)’ does not infringe on Pfizer’s ‘Prevenar 13’ patent. The lawsuit was initiated in 2020, when Pfizer argued that SK’s supply of certain vaccine components, including a recombinant antigen in Russia and research-grade finished products, violated its patent rights. However, the courts concluded that these components were outside the scope of Pfizer’s patent claims and that manufacturing and supply for research purposes did not constitute infringement.
This ruling effectively clears the way for SK Bioscience to export its internally developed vaccine, previously hindered by legal disputes. Notably, SK’s first domestic 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine, SkyNymo, launched in 2016, faced commercialization challenges despite its advanced technology. The recent court decision now provides a foundation for SK to begin exporting recombinant antigen stock solutions and expand its global business.
In the future, SK Bioscience plans to increase the supply of vaccine raw materials to regions with high demand such as Southeast Asia and Latin America. The company also intends to transfer technology to local partners and actively pursue entry into low-income countries by collaborating with international organizations such as WHO and GAVI, leveraging its strengths in public procurement markets.
Furthermore, after the patent expiration expected in 2027, SK’s SkyNymo can be produced domestically and marketed commercially in Korea. The company is also advancing clinical trials for a next-generation 21-valent pneumococcal vaccine developed jointly with Sanofi, which is currently entering phase 3 trials and nearing commercialization.
The global pneumococcal vaccine market continues to grow steadily. According to the market research firm Global Market Insights, the market is projected to reach approximately $15.1 billion by 2034 (around 21 trillion KRW). The expansion is driven largely by government and international organization policies promoting vaccination, which is expected to further boost SK Bioscience’s prospects in this sector.
Jaeyong Ahn, CEO of SK Bioscience, stated, “This court ruling is a meaningful milestone showing that domestically developed vaccines can secure rightful market opportunities. We will contribute to stabilizing vaccine supply both domestically and internationally while advancing global public health.”
Recently, SK Bioscience has been expanding its footprint through a series of legal successes in global patent disputes, including a victory last month in a patent invalidity case related to Moderna’s mRNA vaccines. Such achievements underscore SK Bioscience’s commitment to technological innovation and patent risk management in the rapidly evolving biotech industry.
