[THE INVESTOR] SK Chemical is releasing a flu vaccine, the first cell culture vaccine that covers four strains of influenza viruses, next month. A total of 5 million units have been manufactured, it announced on Aug. 10.

Dubbed SKY Cell Flu Quadrivalent, “it is a next generation vaccine that can prevent four kinds of viruses with a single vaccination,” the company said.


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Multinational firm Glaxo Smith Kline already sells its own quadrivalent, that covers two influenza A strains (H1N1, H3N2) and two influenza B strains (Yamagata, Victoria).

SK Chemical’s vaccine, however, is the first to be manufactured by a cell culture method, which stabilizes and accelerates the manufacturing process, according to the company. It also is free from the possible allergic reactions to egg protein, as it uses aseptic culture medium instead of eggs used in traditional method.

By Hwang You-mee (glamazon@heraldcorp.com)