"Early Patients Use 'Remde', 'Dexa' for Inflammation and Organ Damage"

How to Use COVID-19 Treatments
157 Severe and Critical Patients... More Than 17 Times Increase in 17 Days

A representative from Seoul National University Hospital is unveiling the imported COVID-19 treatment drug 'Remdesivir'.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Heungsun Kim and Hyunui Cho] As the number of severe and critical patients with the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) rapidly increases, treatment sites have reported some effectiveness of 'Remdesivir' and 'Dexamethasone.' Infectious disease experts evaluated that "Remdesivir is effective in the early stages of onset requiring oxygen therapy, and Dexamethasone is effective for patients with inflammation such as organ damage."

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 4th, as of midnight, the number of severe and critical patients was 157. This is more than a 17-fold increase in 17 days from 9 patients on the 18th of last month. The Central Clinical Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases at the National Medical Center recently acknowledged the therapeutic effects of Remdesivir and Dexamethasone among treatments for severe and critical COVID-19 patients, based on overseas cases and other data.

Remdesivir, Appropriate for Administration Within 5 Days
Overseas Studies Show 47% Symptom Improvement During Oxygen Therapy

Remdesivir was originally developed by the American pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences as an Ebola treatment, but after positive results were obtained in clinical trials on hospitalized COVID-19 patients, it received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May.

Professor Eunmi Cheon of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital said, "The COVID-19 virus replicates through ribonucleic acid (RNA) replication and invades blood vessels, potentially damaging organs in the body." She added, "Remdesivir prevents this RNA replication, thereby killing the virus." According to domestic clinical experts who confirmed overseas research results, among patients whose COVID-19 symptoms appeared within 10 days and who received oxygen therapy via nasal prong, about 47% showed symptom improvement when administered Remdesivir. Additionally, 65% of early-stage patients hospitalized with pneumonia symptoms also improved.

Remdesivir supply began domestically in June, and 155 patients were administered the drug according to these criteria. Experts both domestic and abroad agree that a treatment period of 5 days or less is appropriate. Professor Cheon noted, "Administering Remdesivir for more than 10 days may cause side effects such as hepatotoxicity."

A pharmacist at a pharmacy in London, England, is showing dexamethasone, which is known to significantly reduce the mortality rate of severe COVID-19 patients. (London EPA=Yonhap News)

Dexamethasone Effective for Inflammation and Organ Damage
Reduces Mortality in Severe Cases

Dexamethasone is a low-dose steroid used for allergy and inflammation treatment. Professor Woojoo Kim of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital said, "Significant results have been reported in reducing mortality in severe patient treatment." It was administered to critically ill patients on ventilators in the recovery unit at Oxford University in the UK, saving one out of eight patients.

Professor Cheon explained, "In critically ill patients with organ damage and inflammation in blood vessels and kidneys, the anti-inflammatory components of steroids reduce major inflammation markers." She added, "Remdesivir is administered mainly to early hospitalized patients, and when problems such as organ damage occur, Dexamethasone is used, enabling treatment according to protocol." She emphasized, "The decline in mortality rates compared to the past is also due to the proven effects of these drugs." As of the previous day, the domestic COVID-19 fatality rate was 1.59%, lower than major countries such as the United States (3.04%) and China (5.45%).

17 Clinical Trials for Domestically Developed Therapeutics and Vaccines

According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, there are currently a total of 17 approved clinical trials (15 therapeutics and 2 vaccines) for treatments and vaccines being developed domestically. Clinical trials conducted by pharmaceutical companies and researchers number 12 and 5, respectively. Among the clinical trials conducted by pharmaceutical companies, seven, including Green Cross's plasma fractionation therapy, have entered phase 2, while five, including Celltrion's antibody therapy and DNA vaccine, are in phase 1.

Green Cross's plasma fractionation therapy received approval for phase 2 clinical trials on the 20th of last month. Starting this month, clinical trials will be conducted at six hospitals, including Samsung Seoul Hospital, targeting patients within 7 days of COVID-19 symptom onset. Celltrion's neutralizing antibody drug (CT-P59) has completed phase 1 dosing in healthy individuals. Plans for phase 2 and 3 clinical trials are currently under review.

A Ministry of Food and Drug Safety official stated, "We will continuously monitor the development trends of COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines, including clinical trials, and based on this, support necessary matters such as product approval and special imports for domestic introduction."

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