SK Bioscience has been selected as the lead organization for an artificial intelligence (AI)-based vaccine development project supported by the Gates Foundation. The initiative aims to enhance the efficiency and success rate of vaccine development through a clinical decision-support platform.
On July 2, SK Bioscience announced its role in the development of the AI-driven clinical decision-making platform known as ROTOR (The Research Optimization & Trial Outcome Recommender), funded by the Gates Foundation.
The project will also involve collaboration with the nonprofit global health organization PATH and the global IT consulting firm Slalom, with the Gates Foundation providing funding for the initiative.
ROTOR is designed to analyze immunogenicity and scientific data generated during the vaccine development process using AI, thereby supporting research and development decision-making. The goal is to increase the likelihood of success for candidate substances and optimize development strategies.
In vaccine development, there are often insufficient immunological indicators to predict preventive efficacy, making it challenging to determine whether to proceed to Phase 3 clinical trials.
New drug development is known to be a high-risk, high-cost industry, with the probability of obtaining final approval for a drug estimated at around 10%. Given the significant costs and time associated with Phase 3 trials, there is a growing need for more sophisticated decision-making systems.
SK Bioscience and PATH plan to build and validate the platform based on data from rotavirus vaccine development, contributing to strengthening vaccine development capabilities and improving access in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
SK Bioscience has been expanding its infrastructure in collaboration with global health organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI). Earlier this year, the company began developing a new respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antibody drug in partnership with the Gates Foundation's research institution, Gates MRI (Medical Research Institute), further expanding its pipeline.
An Jae-yong, CEO of SK Bioscience, stated, "We will reduce uncertainties in the vaccine development process and enhance decision-making efficiency by utilizing AI. We aim to contribute to improving vaccine accessibility through collaboration with global partners."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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