Gyeonggi Economic Science Institute Confirms Osteoporosis Drug 'Raloxifene' Suppresses COVID-19

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] A study has found that 'Raloxifene,' a treatment for osteoporosis, is effective in suppressing COVID-19.

The Gyeonggi-do Economic Science Promotion Agency announced on the 15th that through a joint study with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's National Institute of Health to identify the inhibitory activity against the COVID-19 virus, it confirmed that Raloxifene exhibits COVID-19 virus inhibitory activity at the cellular level.

Since the outbreak of MERS in 2015, Gyeonggi-do invested 1.5 billion KRW to promote the development of MERS treatments until 2018 and discovered that Raloxifene, used as an osteoporosis treatment, has the effect of suppressing MERS and SARS viruses.

Given that MERS, SARS, and COVID-19 all belong to the coronavirus family, it was presumed that Raloxifene would have inhibitory activity against the COVID-19 virus, and this recent study has proven its actual effectiveness, explained the Gyeonggi Economic Science Promotion Agency.

The agency has formed a consultative body with Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center, Ajou University Medical Center, and Korea University Ansan Hospital for clinical trials.

The consultative body plans to submit a clinical trial protocol to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety by the end of August, and once approved, clinical research will begin, with results expected as early as the end of the year.

Earlier, on the 4th, anticipating the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and repeated overseas outbreaks, the Gyeonggi Economic Science Promotion Agency jointly filed a patent application with the National Institute of Health for the use of Raloxifene as a broad-spectrum coronavirus antiviral agent including COVID-19.

Additionally, they plan to promote technology transfer through a public offering targeting local companies involved in Raloxifene production that possess overseas clinical research capabilities.

Currently, there are about 30 companies in Gyeonggi-do that produce Raloxifene products or can secure raw materials.

The Gyeonggi Economic Science Promotion Agency will soon hold an explanatory meeting for these companies.

Companies selected for technology transfer will provide Raloxifene for clinical research to the consultative body and can independently pursue overseas clinical research.

If clinical research is successfully conducted, it is expected to shorten the development period for COVID-19 treatments, replace imports through domestic production, pioneer the global market, reduce social costs caused by COVID-19, and revitalize the economy.

An official from the province stated, "We plan to establish and operate an infectious disease response consultative body involving industry, academia, research institutes, and hospitals within the province to enable continuous collaboration for the development and verification of infectious disease treatments."

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