LG CHEM has reconfirmed the long-term safety and immune response of its self-developed polio vaccine "Eupolio" in additional clinical trials (Phase 3b). Based on this, the company plans to solidify its existing leadership in the global polio vaccine market and expand exports.
LG CHEM noted on the 17th that it confirmed long-term safety, durability of immunogenicity, booster effect, and appropriateness for cross-vaccination with oral live vaccine (OPV) in the Phase 3b clinical trial conducted to enhance the product competitiveness of Eupolio.
This clinical trial was conducted on about 2,000 infants and young children at 11 medical institutions in the Philippines and Thailand, starting with the first subject registration in January 2023.
As for the key evaluation item, the results of the long-term safety analysis over six months showed that most adverse reactions observed post-vaccination were mild to moderate, and no serious adverse reactions (SADR) related to the vaccine were reported.
The immune effect was also confirmed. After three initial vaccinations, both the serum protection rate and neutralizing antibody conversion rate recorded over 98% at the four-week mark, and the immune effect was maintained even one year after vaccination. Notably, during the fourth vaccination, both indicators reached 100%, demonstrating the utility of booster vaccinations.
The results of cross-vaccination with the oral live vaccine (OPV) also showed serum protection and neutralizing antibody conversion rates of 100%. This outcome indicated that cross-vaccination with OPV and inactivated vaccine aligns with the realities of typical UNICEF supply countries, further strengthening LG CHEM's competitiveness in the bidding market, the company explained.
Since 2021, LG CHEM has been supplying Eupolio to over 50 countries through the global public procurement market, including UNICEF.
In the UNICEF bidding market, Eupolio's market share is about 35%, and the cumulative sales from 2021 to 2025 are expected to reach approximately 300 billion won.
Kim Sung-ho, head of LG CHEM's Specialty Care Division, said, "We will expand the global supply area so that more infants and young children around the world can receive high-quality vaccinations," and added, "We will accelerate the localization of essential basic vaccines, including the hexavalent combination vaccine, continue developing new vaccines, and fulfill our social responsibility as a pharmaceutical company."