Huons-Korea University Medical Center Join Hands to Develop COVID-19 Treatment

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Huons is collaborating with Korea University Medical Center to repurpose the inhaled asthma treatment drug 'Zepirus' as a treatment for COVID-19.

On the 6th, Huons announced that it signed an MOU for joint research on COVID-19 and antiviral treatments with the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation of Korea University Medical Center.

Through joint research with Korea University Medical Center, which has specialized research facilities and personnel for viral diseases, Huons plans to verify the potential for developing COVID-19 and antiviral treatments using Zepirus and about ten antiviral substances licensed from the Gyeonggi-do Economic Science Promotion Agency.

Zepirus, a product of Belgian company SMB, for which Huons holds exclusive domestic licensing and approval rights, is a combination drug of the inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) budesonide (micronized), which alleviates lung inflammation, and the long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) salmeterol, which provides rapid bronchodilation.

The company expects the ICS/LABA combination to rapidly and directly treat the lungs and bronchi infected by the COVID-19 virus.

Um Ki-an, CEO of Huons, stated, “By combining the exclusive substances, research expertise, and know-how possessed by both parties, we will succeed in repurposing Zepirus as a COVID-19 treatment drug as soon as possible.”

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