Prosecutors Summon Former Kolon Group Chairman Lee Woong-ryul Over 'Invossa Suspicion'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] The prosecution summoned and investigated Lee Woong-yeol, former chairman of Kolon Group, in connection with suspicions surrounding the osteoarthritis gene therapy drug Invossa-K (Invossa).

According to the legal community on the 18th, the Criminal Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Chang-soo) called Lee, the former chairman, in the morning for questioning as a suspect.

Lee is suspected of manufacturing and selling Invossa using kidney-derived cells (GP2-293) instead of the cartilage cells approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety from November 2017 to March last year, despite the product license for Invossa's second component being granted for cartilage cells.

He is also accused of knowing since July 2017 that Invossa contained kidney-derived cells instead of cartilage cells, hiding this fact, and submitting false documents to obtain approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

The prosecution plans to review the investigation details of Lee and decide on the direction of his legal status, including whether to request an arrest warrant.

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