Lee Nak-yeon: "Within a Month or Two, We Will Become a Country Equipped with Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention"

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering opening remarks at a meeting to review the status of COVID-19 treatment development held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 12th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] On the 12th, Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed optimism, saying, "If things go well, we might become a country equipped with all three pillars of COVID-19 diagnosis, treatment, and prevention within a month or two."

On the same day, Lee presided over a meeting at the National Assembly to review the development status of COVID-19 treatments, stating, "We have already succeeded in early diagnosis. Now, we face the tasks of early treatment and early prevention."

The meeting, hosted by Democratic Party lawmakers Lee Kwang-jae, Hwang Hee, and Shin Hyun-young, was attended by key representatives from major domestic COVID-19 treatment developers, including Kwon Ki-sung, Head of Research and Development at Celltrion, Lee Jae-woo, Head of Development at GC Green Cross, and Park Hyun-jin, Head of Development at Daewoong Pharmaceutical, who shared updates on their development progress.

Head Kwon stated regarding the Phase 2 clinical trial results of their antibody treatment, which will be released on the 13th, "We have obtained results beyond expectations," adding, "These results are equal to or better than existing COVID-19 antibody treatments such as those from Eli Lilly and Regeneron."

Head Lee said, "The plasma treatment under development has confirmed safety. Last year, there was a dramatic effect at Severance Hospital in Sinchon," and added, "While export is possible, the primary goal is to supply it free of charge to the public."

Head Park also said, "We possess the only oral drug with Phase 2 results," and stated, "We plan to accelerate clinical trials and confirm the treatment's effectiveness."

Lawmaker Lee Kwang-jae said, "If the three key COVID-19 treatments and vaccines are administered in earnest in February and March, we should create safe zones or safe cities in shops and urban areas to enhance economic resilience," adding, "I hope this COVID era becomes a year in which companies accelerate efforts to build the bio-health industry and future growth engines."

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