GC Biopharma’s Flu Vaccine Becomes Key Ingredient in French Biotech’s ‘Universal Vaccine’

French biotechnology company Osivax has secured a license from GC Biopharma for GC Flu, the company’s influenza vaccine, and has begun developing a combination vaccine. Osivax aims to combine its influenza A vaccine candidate OVX836 with GC Flu in a single injection. The agreement is drawing attention because it marks the adoption of a commercially available Korean vaccine as a key component of a global innovative drug.

Existing flu vaccines must be replaced each year because they target the surface protein hemagglutinin (HA). HA mutates each season, and preventive efficacy declines substantially when predictions of the circulating strains are inaccurate. According to the WHO and CDC, approximately 1 billion people worldwide contract seasonal influenza each year, and hundreds of thousands die.

OVX836 targets the ‘unchanging region’

Osivax’s OVX836 takes a different approach to this limitation. It targets the nucleoprotein (NP) inside influenza A viruses, an antigen that is well conserved across various influenza variants. OVX836 is designed to induce a T-cell immune response against NP, providing protection regardless of changes in the viral surface. In phase 2a results published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, OVX836 demonstrated 84% protection against symptomatic influenza infection.

GC Flu is an inactivated seasonal influenza vaccine that induces an antibody response against the HA surface antigens of influenza A and B viruses. Combining the two vaccines would create a dual immune system in which the antibody response from GC Flu and the T-cell response from OVX836 work simultaneously. Osivax has already confirmed this potential in a clinical trial that combined OVX836 with GSK’s Fluarix Tetra, administered as separate injections.

Reducing the number of injections could increase vaccination rates

The key reason Osivax is pursuing development of a single-injection product is vaccination coverage. In the combination trial, the two vaccines had to be administered separately, and the company believes that vaccination rates decline as the number of injections increases, particularly among people who are reluctant to receive injections. Integrating the vaccines into a single injection could lower this barrier.

Under the agreement, Osivax secured a nonexclusive license for GC Flu in regions excluding Japan and South Korea. Osivax will lead development and commercialization outside South Korea and Japan, while GC Biopharma will supply the vaccine and receive royalties. GC Biopharma will retain exclusive rights in South Korea and serve as part of the global supply chain. GC Flu is currently approved in more than 25 countries worldwide, with cumulative production exceeding 400 million doses. GC Biopharma has ranked No. 1 in market share for 12 consecutive years in Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Southern Hemisphere influenza vaccine tenders, making it a partner with an established record of reliability in global supply.

Results from a 2,850-participant trial could be a turning point

The practical pace of combination vaccine development depends on the results of OVX836’s large-scale clinical trial. As of December 2025, Osivax had completed enrollment of 2,850 participants in a phase 2b trial, with key efficacy data expected to be announced soon. If the results are positive, the timeline for initiating clinical development of a single injection combining the two vaccines could become more defined.

Industry experts believe the combination vaccine could alter the existing influenza vaccine market if commercialized. The global influenza vaccine market is valued at approximately $9 billion as of 2025, and major pharmaceutical companies such as Sanofi and GSK dominate the market through annual strain updates. If a single injection capable of protecting against broad variation over multiple years emerges, it would directly compete with existing products based on annual strain predictions. The WHO has analyzed that widespread adoption of next-generation influenza vaccines with improved efficacy could prevent up to 6.2 million deaths from 2025 through 2050.