[Edaily Reporter NA EUN-KYUNG ] SK BIOSCIENCE(302440)will lead an artificial intelligence (AI)-based vaccine research and development project supported by the Gates Foundation.

SK BIOSCIENCE announced on the 2nd that it has been selected as the lead organization for the “ROTOR” (The Research Optimization & Trial Outcome Recommender) project, an AI-based clinical decision-support platform development initiative funded by the Gates Foundation.

The Gates Foundation is providing research funding for this project, with the nonprofit international health organization PATH (Program for Appropriate Technology in Health) and the global information technology (IT) consulting firm Slalom participating as partners.

ROTOR is a platform that uses AI to analyze immunogenicity and clinical data accumulated during the vaccine development process to support R&D decision-making. Its goal is to increase the likelihood of success for candidate vaccines and optimize development strategies, with plans to expand it into a universal platform applicable to various vaccines and diseases in the future.

In vaccine development, the decision to proceed to large-scale Phase 3 clinical trials is typically based on Phase 2 results. However, for some vaccines—including the rotavirus vaccine—development decisions have been difficult because immunological correlates of protection (CoP), which predict preventive efficacy, have not been sufficiently established, or because results vary depending on the testing method. In particular, given that Phase 3 clinical trials require enormous costs and time, there have been consistent calls for a more objective, data-driven decision-making system.

SK BIOSCIENCE expects to enhance vaccine development efficiency and success rates by leveraging AI to analyze vast amounts of clinical and research data and propose development strategies and clinical trial designs with a high probability of success.

The company plans to collaborate with PATH to build and validate a platform using data obtained during the development of the next-generation injectable rotavirus vaccine. Through this initiative, the company also aims to strengthen the R&D capabilities of vaccine developers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and expand access to vaccines.

SK BIOSCIENCE has been expanding its global public health initiatives through collaborations with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi), and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among others.

Recently, the company signed a licensing agreement with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop an injectable rotavirus vaccine and is pursuing the joint development of a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antibody therapy with the Gates Medical Research Institute. In February, it was awarded a contract by a European Union (EU) agency to develop a pandemic patch-type influenza vaccine, continuing to expand its infectious disease pipeline.

Ahn Jae-yong, President of SK BIOSCIENCE, stated, “This project is a new initiative that leverages AI technology to reduce uncertainty in the vaccine development process and enable more scientific and efficient decision-making.” He added, “We will collaborate with global partners, including the Gates Foundation, to contribute not only to innovation in vaccine R&D but also to improving global access to vaccines.”

Meanwhile, SK BIOSCIENCE is also expanding its system for utilizing AI across all aspects of research and development. By building an AI-powered experimental design system and a virtual research environment (Dry Lab) based on research and production data, the company is strengthening its capabilities in candidate substance analysis, clinical trial design, and data-driven decision-making.