As 2022 draws to a close, IVI reflects on the progress, partnerships, and new initiatives that made this year—IVI’s 25th anniversary—a memorable one.

For our Year in Review, we rounded up 12 highlights from across the institute, including the approval of two new vaccines in Korea now on their way to the global public market, our work to increase the global supply of oral cholera vaccine through technology transfer, IVI’s ongoing partnership with the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare to train a skilled and experienced vaccine manufacturing workforce in low- and middle-income countries, the formation of IVI’s Global Advisory Group of Experts, and more.

Thank you for joining us on our mission to accelerate vaccines for global health. We look forward to the next 25 years with you.

IVI’s key milestones in 2022

1. Two new vaccines approved by the Korean Regulatory Authority

IVI’s typhoid conjugate vaccine, Vi-DT, the product of a decade-long partnership with SK bioscience, was approved for export by the Korean Regulatory Authority and is under review for WHO prequalification.

Additionally, IVI led a Phase 3 pivotal trial of SK bioscience’s SKYCovione™️, Korea’s first homegrown COVID-19 vaccine licensed by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

2. Launched a Europe Regional Office, Country Office, and 3 Collaborating Centers

IVI’s Europe Regional Office in Stockholm, Country Office in Austria, and Collaborating Centers in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Madagascar represent IVI’s international expansion and closer collaborations with partners in Europe and Africa.

3. Presented evidence to the WHO’s SAGE on the effectiveness of a single dose of HPV vaccine

Results from IVI’s HPV single-dose impact study in Thailand were sent to the WHO SAGE as part of a data package that informed a new recommendation to update the current dose schedule.

4. Co-hosted workshops with governments and regional stakeholder groups to share research findings and inform evidence-based public health policy

IVI organized a workshop in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh to review key research findings related to antimicrobial resistance and help form evidence-based policies to contain AMR. IVI also held the first Africa Regional Meeting on Typhoid and Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine to accelerate vaccine introduction in typhoid-endemic countries.

5. Received a Best Partnership Award from the government of Fiji and the Industry Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Biosecurity in the Republic of Korea

IVI’s Typhoid Fever in Fiji – Vaccination towards Elimination (Ty-FIVE) project received a distinction from the Northern Health Division of Fiji for its work to strengthen typhoid surveillance and eliminate typhoid fever from the island of Vanua Levu. In Korea, IVI was commended by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy for excellence in biosecurity management.

6. Launched the Global Advisory Group of Experts (GAGE) to guide IVI on matters of global health and diplomacy

As a new advisory body chaired by Dr. Deborah Birx, GAGE guides IVI in fulfilling its role as an effective and sustainable international organization as well as a facilitator for multilateral cooperation.

7. Started constructing an mRNA vaccine platform to provide protection against Lassa fever

IVI initiated a new laboratory project to establish an mRNA vaccine platform targeting Lassa virus glycoprotein and to prepare for rapid vaccine production against emerging infectious diseases. A final candidate will be selected based on binding and neutralizing Ab results.

8. Launched two new annual awards: the IVI-SK bioscience Park MahnHoon Award for outstanding contributions in vaccine discovery, development, and delivery and the IVI Founders Medal for significant contributions to IVI’s establishment

Dr. Tore Godal, Prof. Drew Weissman, and Prof. Katalin Karikó received the first ever IVI-SK bioscience Park MahnHoon Award for their remarkable contributions to global health and vaccine innovation. In commemoration of its 25th anniversary, IVI additionally honored four leaders instrumental to its founding with the IVI Founders Medal: Prof. Seung Il Shin, Prof. Barry Bloom, Prof. Wan Kyoo Cho, and Prof. Sang-Dai Park.

9. Led the Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing program’s training courses, an initiative of the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare with support from the WHO to strengthen vaccine manufacturing capacity in low- and middle-income countries.

As the operator of the WHO’s Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing program in partnership with the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare, IVI is training a global workforce in vaccine- and bio-manufacturing through on-site and online courses. IVI’s flagship International Vaccinology Course held its 21st edition at IVI Headquarters and Karolinska Institutet, in Seoul and Stockholm respectively.

10. Signed a new agreement with Biovac in Cape Town to transfer technology and know-how for manufacturing oral cholera vaccine, a historic step forward in establishing end-to-end vaccine manufacturing in Africa

This technology transfer agreement is a critical step forward for vaccine manufacturing in Africa, for use in Africa and beyond, and will increase the supply of oral cholera vaccine in the face of a growing number of cholera outbreaks and critical shortage of vaccines.

11. Welcomed 4 new countries as IVI State Parties: United Arab Emirates, Rwanda, Spain, and Thailand

With a community of 39 member states and the WHO, IVI remains committed to the discovery, development, and delivery of safe, effective, and affordable vaccines for global health. In 2023, IVI will launch its Global Council as a representative body of its state parties.

12. Granted observer status at the 2023 World Health Assembly

IVI will participate in the WHA in 2023 as an observer along with the United Nations Development Programme. As a UN treaty-based intergovernmental organization, IVI will continue to work closely with the WHO to advance the development and accessibility of vaccines for global health and other Sustainable Development Goals.