Jungang Ocean "Mecox CureMed, Joint Development of COVID-19 Treatment with European New Drug Developer"

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] Mekox Curemed, a bio-specialized company developing new drugs that jointly filed a patent with KOSDAQ-listed company Jungang Ocean, announced on the 27th that it has signed an agreement to jointly develop a treatment for COVID-19 with European new drug development specialist Tube Pharmaceuticals GmbH.

Upon signing the agreement, Mekox Curemed decided to sell the main substance of the COVID-19 treatment, Zanthoxylum extract (M002-A), to Tube Pharma. M002-A is the main ingredient of Bozanics, a natural substance-based anti-inflammatory and analgesic for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, for which Mekox Curemed has completed preclinical trials and has begun full clinical preparations. It is a natural substance whose safety has been proven for a long time and is known to have antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects.

Tube Pharma, located in Vienna, Austria, is a new drug development research specialist company possessing a chemical synthesis platform and multiple anticancer drug pipelines. Based on its network within Europe, Tube Pharma plans to actively utilize BSL (Biosafety Level) research facilities and equipment to conduct structural analysis for optimal antiviral efficacy component analysis and purification of M002-A against the COVID-19 virus. This research will be conducted based on the preclinical trial results carried out by Mekox Curemed.

A representative of Tube Pharma stated, “Through this agreement, we will establish ourselves as a developer of COVID-19 virus treatments using natural substances in Europe and plan to participate in the chemical synthesis of the treatment. We expect to play a leading role in preparing and conducting clinical trials for COVID-19 treatments in Europe.”

Additionally, Tube Pharma has decided to actively participate not only in antiviral treatments but also in the European expansion of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of M002. Mekox Curemed began with a joint development research agreement with Catholic University in March, jointly filed a patent on a pharmaceutical composition for coronavirus treatment based on Zanthoxylum leaf extract with Jungang Ocean, and has now signed a joint development contract for a COVID-19 treatment with Tube Pharma.

Going forward, Mekox Curemed plans to continuously expand its collaboration targets to leading domestic and international universities, national research institutes, and companies, accelerating its efforts in treatment development.

Meanwhile, Mekox Curemed is developing new anticancer drugs based on an anticancer drug platform technology utilizing Nano-Drug Delivery System, and is preparing to apply for clinical trial plans (IND) in the second half of this year for an oral formulation, a new drug changing the administration route targeting hematologic cancers.

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