Seo Jung-jin: "COVID-19 Treatment to Enter Clinical Trials Within 6 Months" (Update)

Celltrion Group Chairman Seo Jung-jin is holding a press conference related to COVID-19 through a YouTube broadcast on the 12th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Seo Jung-jin, Chairman of Celltrion Group, announced on the 12th that the development of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) treatment is currently underway and that clinical trial procedures will begin in about six months.

At a YouTube press conference held that day, Chairman Seo said, "We are consulting with the government and Seoul National University Hospital and expect to be able to select antibodies within this month. By next month, we plan to identify antibodies with high neutralizing ability and start producing clinical-grade antibodies from May." He added, "We anticipate that after about six months from now, we will be able to conduct clinical trials, including human administration, in consultation with pharmaceutical regulatory authorities."

The company is conducting research by applying for a national project related to COVID-19 treatments recently announced by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019 Novel Coronavirus Treatment Monoclonal Antibody Nonclinical Candidate Discovery). They are currently performing antibody screening using blood supplied from recovered patients, and plan to closely coordinate with authorities and others to minimize the development period for the remaining process. The company has previously completed Phase 2b clinical trials of the influenza multi-antibody new drug CT-P27 and has accumulated expertise by developing CT-P38, an antibody for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) treatment.

Considering the high mutation rate, the company stated that they are also developing multi-antibodies. Chairman Seo projected that the current investment in the clinical phase is about 20 billion KRW, and more than 300 billion KRW will be required in the commercialization phase.

Chairman Seo said, "Given the urgent situation, we plan to conduct clinical trials by increasing the number of patients at each clinical stage more than usual while conducting animal testing in parallel." He also stated, "We will consult with relevant agencies on ways for patients to receive drug assistance during clinical stages."

Meanwhile, the company announced that it will supply protective masks to 500,000 residents and vulnerable groups in Incheon and Cheongju, where its business sites are located, to help with mask supply. The masks provided in the first phase are made with the same quality as those used in pharmaceutical cleanrooms and are reported to maintain functionality even after multiple washes. These masks were previously supplied by overseas companies.

Chairman Seo said, "Today, as the World Health Organization declared a pandemic, the global spread of COVID-19 has entered a more serious phase. In fulfilling our corporate social responsibility, we will accelerate the development of rapid diagnostic kits and treatments to contribute to preventing the spread of COVID-19 not only in our country but worldwide."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.