Equipped with their respective flu vaccines specialized for people aged 65 and older, Sanofi and CSL Seqirus are seeking to expand their market share in Korea’s influenza (flu) vaccine market, which is driven by vaccines registered in the National Immunization Program (NIP).

CSL Seqirus was the first to enter this market last year, followed by Sanofi, which newly entered the market this year. The companies will face off for the first time in the 2024-25 flu season. Each is expected to target, highlighting their respective characteristics, high immunogenicity and high dose.


According to industry sources on the 13th, ‘Efluelda,’ Sanofi’s high-dose influenza vaccine for people aged 65 and older, will be launched in time for this year’s flu season.

Efluelda contains 4 times more the amount of antigens compared with conventional vaccines and has a mechanism of action that elicits a stronger immune response, preventing 24.2% more infection compared to the standard-dose vaccine.

Previously, CSL Seqirus’s Fluad Quad was the first flu vaccine to be launched for people aged 65 and older. It was approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2022 and launched in time for the 23/24 season last year.

Fluad Quad is a quadrivalent influenza vaccine that includes the immune booster 'MF59' and was developed by adding one type of influenza B virus to the company’s existing trivalent influenza vaccine Fluad. It offers improved size and breadth of immune response through the immune booster in older adults.

The subsequent entry of Efluelda into the market, which was preemptively occupied by Fluad Quad, has ignited competition in the 65+ age group.

While the inclusion of the influenza vaccine in the NIP could be a hurdle, the two companies believe there is an unmet need for flu protection amongst the elderly in Korea.

In fact, despite the high rates of influenza immunization among people aged 65 and older, two-thirds of all influenza deaths in Korea occur in people 60 and older.

In particular, older adults are known to be particularly vulnerable to influenza infection and complications due to decreased immune function and comorbidities. They also receive less protection after vaccination than younger adults.

"While the majority of influenza vaccinations for people aged 65 and older are administered through NIP, the company believes there is still significant market development potential given the lower vaccine efficacy and risk of complications in older adults," said a Sanofi representative.

"The need for high immunogenic influenza vaccination option has been increasing amongst older adults in Korea, with the Korean Society of Infectious Diseases' revision to the Adult Immunization Guideline last year recommending high immunogenic influenza vaccination for those aged 65 and older," said a CSL Seqirus representative.


Flu vaccination for older adults enters NIP...companies ponder over private market marketing challenges NIP

However, due to the high share of NIP vaccinations amongst total influenza vaccinations, the private, non-reimbursed market for those aged 65 and older is limited.

As a result, both Sanofi and CSL Seqirus would need to highlight the value of their vaccines, while holding in check the competition between products.

In its second season on the market, Fluad Quad is expected to be available in the country from mid-September, at a similar volume to last year.

CSL Seqirus’s marketing keyword for this season is 'filial piety'. The company is focusing on communicating the differentiated superiority of Fluad Quad compared to the existing egg-based vaccine and is planning activities to express the feelings of sons and daughters who care about their parents' health.

In particular, before the launch of the influenza vaccine, the company emphasized its strengths over its competitor, announcing the results of a study on the relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of trivalent immune-boosting influenza and trivalent high-dose influenza vaccines.

"While high-dose influenza vaccines simply increase the amount of antigen, Fluad, an immune-boosting influenza vaccine, is different as it improves the immune response through MF59, an adjuvant developed through our company’s proprietary technology, to enhance the prevention effect," emphasized a CSL Seqirus representative.

While Sanofi did not disclose specific volumes, the company said it is preparing for full-scale marketing activities, including national lot release, for Efluelda.

The marketing keyword for Efluelda is "flu prevention, more than just protection" and will focus on its ability to address the unmet needs of older adults in terms of flu infections and hospitalizations from complications.

"We are taking a deliberate and systematic approach to address the unmet need for flu prevention in the elderly," said a Sanofi representative. "We are planning a range of promotional activities targeting healthcare providers as well as consumers, as the high-dose vaccine has been shown to provide greater protection and reduced hospitalization rates compared with conventional vaccines."