Daewoong Pharmaceutical: "Hoistar Tablets" Effective for Mild COVID-19 Treatment

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Daewoong Pharmaceutical announced on the 9th that the domestic mild COVID-19 patient treatment efficacy of 'Hoistar Tablets,' being developed as a treatment for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), has been confirmed. Hoistar Tablets are prescription drugs used to treat chronic pancreatitis and postoperative reflux esophagitis.

The research team analyzed clinical efficacy and safety by comparing 20 patients who underwent blood tests among 7 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and treated with Hoistar Tablets and 22 patients treated with 'Kaletra Tablets' from August to September. Kaletra Tablets are AIDS treatments and have been the most widely used drugs for mild COVID-19 patients until recently.

The comparative analysis between the Hoistar Tablet group and the control group (Kaletra Tablet group) used the C-reactive protein (CRP) test, an indicator that can predict inflammation levels in the human body such as pneumonia. CRP is a substance produced by the liver and secreted into the bloodstream when inflammation occurs, and the higher the inflammation level, the higher the CRP level.

Comparing the CRP levels of the two groups after drug administration, 6 out of 7 patients (86%) in the Hoistar Tablet group, who showed abnormal CRP levels at the time of hospitalization, had their CRP levels regulated to the normal range. In contrast, in the Kaletra Tablet group, 11 out of 18 patients (61%) who showed abnormal CRP levels at hospitalization were regulated to the normal range, and 1 out of 2 patients who had normal CRP levels maintained the normal range.

Additionally, hyperkalemia, a known adverse reaction of Hoistar Tablets, did not occur, confirming that the drug can be safely used for COVID-19 patients. On the other hand, 9 patients (41%) in the Kaletra group experienced diarrhea symptoms at least once after drug administration.

Daewoong Pharmaceutical stated, "If similar results are secured in the ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial, Hoistar Tablets are expected to become the first drug in Korea that mild COVID-19 patients can safely take."

Daewoong Pharmaceutical plans to develop Hoistar Tablets as a first-line COVID-19 drug that can be administered not only to confirmed COVID-19 patients but also to close contacts, suspected cases, and self-quarantined individuals.

Jeon Seung-ho, CEO of Daewoong Pharmaceutical, said, "We will quickly secure clinical results within this year to provide COVID-19 treatments to patients starting from January next year."

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