S.Korea's SK bioscience wins patent dispute against Pfizer over pneumococcal vaccine

IANS May 21, 2025 218 views

SK Bioscience has scored a significant legal victory against Pfizer in a complex patent dispute over pneumococcal vaccine components. The South Korean biotech firm's Supreme Court win allows them to export vaccine elements to research markets, particularly in Southeast Asia and Latin America. Despite ongoing restrictions on domestic manufacturing until 2027, the company sees this ruling as a strategic breakthrough for global vaccine access. SK Bioscience is simultaneously advancing a cutting-edge 21-valent pneumococcal vaccine in collaboration with Sanofi, demonstrating continued innovation in biotechnology.

"This latest court decision is meaningful in that it ensures a competitively developed vaccine in Korea does not go to waste" - Ahn Jae-yong, SK Bioscience CEO
Seoul, May 21: SK bioscience, a biotech arm of South Korea's SK Group, on Wednesday said it has won a patent lawsuit against global pharmaceutical giant Pfizer over pneumococcal vaccine components.

Key Points

1

SK wins Supreme Court ruling against Pfizer over vaccine patent

2

Company can now export PCV13 vaccine components globally

3

Developing next-generation 21-valent pneumococcal vaccine

4

Previously won patent case against Moderna

In 2020, Pfizer filed a lawsuit with a Korean court, claiming that SK bioscience's export of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) components and finished products for research to Russia infringed on the composition patent of its vaccine Prevnar 13, Yonhap news agency.

South Korea's Supreme Court recently upheld a lower court's ruling that SK bioscience's PCV13 components do not fall within the scope of Pfizer's patent claims.

The court also ruled that the production and export of PCV13 products for research purposes do not constitute patent infringement.

SK bioscience developed SKYPneumo, South Korea's first domestically produced PCV13, in 2016.

However, due to a separate patent dispute with Pfizer, the company remains restricted from manufacturing and selling the vaccine in South Korea until 2027, when the related patents are set to expire.

The company said the latest ruling is expected to open the door to exporting individual PCV13 components to countries with high vaccine demand, particularly in Southeast Asia and Latin America.

In parallel, SK bioscience is developing a 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in collaboration with Sanofi S.A. The vaccine candidate entered global Phase 3 clinical trials in late 2024.

"This latest court decision is meaningful in that it ensures a competitively developed vaccine in Korea does not go to waste but instead finds a new opportunity," said SK bioscience Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ahn Jae-yong.

"We will leverage this momentum to improve access to premium vaccines, contribute to a stable global vaccine supply, and achieve sustainable growth," Jae-yong added.

In April, SK bioscience also won a patent invalidation case against Moderna, the global developer of the messenger-RNA (mRNA) Covid-19 vaccine, Yonhap reported.

SK bioscience filed a nullity suit in 2023 challenging Moderna's patent on modified nucleosides, nucleotides, and nucleic acids, as well as their uses, the company said.

Moderna's patent is the only registered patent in South Korea related to mRNA manufacturing technology.

SK bioscience had argued the patent "unfairly granted priority rights, which hindered the development of mRNA technology."

Reader Comments

Here are 6 diverse Indian perspective comments on the SK bioscience vs Pfizer patent dispute:
R
Rajesh K.
This is great news for global vaccine access! Big pharma companies often use patents to block competition. SK bioscience's win shows developing countries can stand up to these tactics. Hope Indian companies also learn from this. 🎉
P
Priya M.
Interesting case! While I support IP rights, vaccine patents should have more flexibility during health emergencies. SK bioscience seems to be walking a fine line between research and commercial production. The 2027 restriction in Korea shows patents still have power.
A
Amit S.
South Korea showing how to balance innovation and public health. Indian pharma companies should collaborate with SK bioscience - we need more affordable pneumonia vaccines for our children. Bharat Biotech, are you listening?
S
Sunita R.
Two wins against big pharma in one month! First Moderna, now Pfizer. This gives hope to developing nations' biotech sectors. But I wonder - will these companies now pressure governments through other means? The fight isn't over yet.
V
Vikram J.
As someone in pharma industry, this judgement is technically sound. Research exemptions are important for scientific progress. But SK bioscience should be careful - Pfizer might come back with different lawsuits. Their legal teams don't give up easily!
N
Neha T.
Mixed feelings. While I support local innovation, we must ensure quality isn't compromised in the race to challenge patents. Pneumonia vaccines save lives - hope SK bioscience maintains same standards as Pfizer. Their phase 3 trials will be crucial.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Your email won't be published


Disclaimer: Comments here reflect the author's views alone. Insulting or using offensive language against individuals, communities, religion, or the nation is illegal.

Tags:
SK Bioscience Pfizer Vaccine Patent South Korea Pharmaceutical Innovation Pneumococcal Vaccine mRNA Technology