Govt skeptical about using existing vaccines on monkeypox

Expresses skeptism on suing currently approved 2nd gen vaccines and treatments on monkeypox

KDCA “No safety and efficacy data exists… rather first study the effect of 3rd gen smallpox vaccine in development in Korea”

The government has said that the use of licensed human smallpox vaccines, antivirals, or vaccinia immune globulin intravenous (VIGIV) to prevent the domestic outbreak of monkeypox should be carefully considered in terms of efficacy and safety.

 

In particular, the authorities explained there is a plan to study whether the 3rd generation smallpox vaccine that is being jointly developed with a Korean pharmaceutical company is effective in preventing monkeypox.

 

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced so in its measure to respond to monkeypox that it submitted to the National Assembly on the 8th.

 

Cases of monkeypox are currently arising in western countries such as the United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States.

 

However, due to the possibility of its influx the disease control and prevention authorities are working to introduce the monkeypox vaccine ‘Jynneos’ that received marketing authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration.

 

Jynneos is a ‘third-generation smallpox vaccine,’ while other smallpox vaccines approved in Korea are classified as ‘second-generation smallpox vaccines.’ The government is skeptical about using the approved second-generation smallpox vaccines, antivirals, and VIGIVs on monkeypox.

 

Although the second-generation smallpox vaccines are known to be 85% effective against monkeypox, KDCA explains that no proper efficacy and safety data exists and their method of administration is too complicated.

 

Thus it is expected that the KDCA will not seriously review the use of approved second-generation smallpox vaccines and treatments until a monkeypox case arises in Korea.

 

KDCA said, “We currently have no monkeypox treatments or vaccines in stock.

 

The US CDC (Center for Disease Control) is guiding the use of smallpox vaccines, antivirals, and VIGIVs to control monkeypox, but recommends its use according to new drug clinical trials.” The KDCA added, “If monkeypox outbreaks in Korea, we plan to discuss the use of VIGIVs that we have in stock as treatment with experts.

 

Also, we are monitoring the development and supply status of monkeypox antivirals in Korea and abroad for their use.” In particular, KDCA announced that a study is being planned to evaluate whether the approved second-generation smallpox vaccine and the third-generation smallpox vaccine that is being jointly developed with a domestic pharmaceutical company show effect in preventing monkeypox.

 

The smallpox co-developer that KDCA mentioned seems to be HK Inno.N.

 

HK Inno.N is the only Korean pharmaceutical company that manufactures a second-generation smallpox vaccine.

 

HK Inno.N is conducting a clinical trial to confirm the preventive effect of its second-generation smallpox vaccine against monkeypox while working to develop a third-generation smallpox vaccine.

 

Third-generation smallpox vaccines are attenuated live vaccines that are expected to improve safety and have reduced toxicity compared to second-generation smallpox vaccines.

 

The KDCA said, “As of now, no vaccine is being developed for the prevention of monkeypox in Korea.

 

However, there are plans to study whether the approved smallpox vaccines and the third-generation smallpox vaccine in joint development with a Korean company is effective against monkeypox.”