'80 Domestic Cases' of Variant Virus... Will Treatments Be Effective?

Efficacy Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapeutics at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] As of midnight on the 11th, 80 cases of COVID-19 variant viruses have been confirmed in South Korea. In particular, concerns about the spread of variant viruses have increased as cases of community transmission have recently been identified. In response, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases announced the efficacy evaluation results of COVID-19 antibody therapeutics related to this issue.

In this analysis, Celltrion's COVID-19 antibody therapeutic 'Rekkironaju' showed excellent neutralizing ability (virus neutralization capability) against six existing variant viruses and the UK variant. However, the neutralizing ability was significantly reduced against the South African variant. Remdesivir, which is already in use as a treatment, showed inhibitory effects against all existing variant viruses as well as the UK and South African variants.

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Rekkironaju Ineffective Against South African Variant... "Use Restricted for Confirmed Patients"

Rekkironaju, which received conditional approval for Phase 3 clinical trials from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) on the 5th, was confirmed to have excellent neutralizing ability against six existing variant viruses S, L, V, G, GH, and GR. Similar results were observed for the UK variant virus. However, its efficacy was very low against the South African variant virus. Among the 80 variant virus cases confirmed domestically so far, the UK variant accounts for 64 cases, followed by 10 cases of the South African variant and 6 cases of the Brazilian variant.

Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, stated, "According to some overseas studies, the South African and Brazilian variants have a spike protein mutation called 'E484K' in the COVID-19 virus, and when a critical mutation occurs here, antibody therapeutics that received emergency use authorization in the U.S. also showed very low efficacy," adding, "This was somewhat anticipated." He further added, "Regarding the South African variant, the neutralizing ability is practically almost undetectable based on the data."

Rekkironaju is currently undergoing additional analysis at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the supervision of Celltrion. Comprehensive analysis through animal testing is also planned afterward.

For now, authorities have decided to recommend restricting the use of Rekkironaju for patients confirmed with the South African variant virus. However, even for confirmed patients coming from areas where the South African variant is prevalent, Rekkironaju will be supplied upon medical staff's request before confirming variant virus infection.

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'Administered to Over 4,000 Patients' Remdesivir "Effective Against Both UK and South African Variants"

On the other hand, Remdesivir from the U.S. company Gilead Sciences, which is currently approved by the MFDS and used as a COVID-19 treatment, was analyzed to be effective against the South African variant as well. It can handle existing variant viruses S, GH, GR, as well as the UK variant.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight on the 11th, Remdesivir has been supplied to 4,313 patients across 119 hospitals.

Deputy Head Kwon said, "The National Institute of Infectious Diseases, through public-private cooperation, has secured broad-spectrum antibody substances that have inhibitory effects on the UK and South African variant viruses, and is developing therapeutics that can minimize the impact of variants using these substances," adding, "We will continue monitoring domestic and international variant viruses and analyzing therapeutic efficacy going forward."

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