Huons (243070.KQ) is expanding its vaccine lineup for both children and adults with the introduction of Imojev, a live attenuated vaccine against Japanese encephalitis.
The company said on the 1st that it had signed an exclusive distribution agreement for Imojev in South Korea with Substipharm Biologics, a subsidiary of the French pharmaceutical group Substipharm.
Imojev is a live Japanese encephalitis vaccine for children aged 12 months and older and for adults. Children complete the schedule with two doses and adults with a single dose. That compares with inactivated vaccines, which require up to five doses for children, making the new vaccine more convenient and easier to complete.
Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito-borne infection that initially causes mild symptoms such as fever and headache. If it progresses to encephalitis, it can bring high fever, seizures and paralysis. The fatality rate reaches 20% to 30%, and with no specific treatment available, prevention is considered essential.
Huons set up a vaccine division in March and has introduced five vaccines, continuing to expand the business. It has also strengthened its cold-chain distribution infrastructure and its sales network specializing in injectable drugs. The company said the latest agreement will widen its product lineup and that it plans to build a stable vaccine supply system in cooperation with Substipharm.
"Through this partnership, we aim to improve access to Imojev and support broader protection against Japanese encephalitis for both children and adults," said Fabrice Basquiera, chief executive of Substipharm Biologics. Song Soo-young, chief executive of Huons, said, "We will continue to make steady efforts to reliably expand our range of vaccines, protect public health and improve the domestic healthcare environment."
