Administration begins for infants under 12 months, expected to provide protection throughout the RSV season

RSV preventive antibody injection introduced and rolled out in Korea with strong support from local experts

SK bioscience, a global innovative vaccine and biotech company committed to promoting human health from prevention to cure, today announced the nationwide launch of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) preventive antibody administration, coinciding with the start of the RSV season. The program targets infants under 12 months entering their first RSV season and children under 24 months at high risk of severe RSV disease during their second season. Following the country’s first RSV preventive injections in February, hospitals and clinics across Korea are now administering the product as the second RSV season begins.

RSV is one of the most common respiratory viruses, infecting up to 90% of children under the age of two and remaining a leading cause of pediatric hospitalizations. It often causes lower respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis. Infections during the first year of life are associated with delayed recovery and an increased risk of developing asthma, underscoring the importance of prevention.

Local experts also emphasize the need for RSV protection. Dr. Gyo-Dang Koo, pediatrician at Bandi Pediatric & Adolescent Clinic in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, commented, “RSV can have serious consequences for newborns, making prevention essential. Many parents and the general public remain unaware of the disease and the availability of preventive antibody injections, so active guidance and awareness efforts from government and related institutions are crucial.”

The RSV preventive antibody injection, approved by Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, is distributed and marketed by SK bioscience. A single dose can be administered to infants in their first RSV season, providing protection for at least five months?covering the entire autumn and winter RSV season. Children under 24 months who are at high risk of severe RSV disease during their second RSV season are also eligible.