COVID-19 Plasma Therapy Effective Against UK and South African Variants

Clinical trial product of GC Green Cross's COVID-19 plasma treatment 'GC5131A' production site (Provided by GC Green Cross) [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] It has been confirmed that the COVID-19 plasma treatment developed domestically is effective against variant viruses as well.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced on the 25th the results of an analysis at the cellular level of the neutralizing efficacy of the COVID-19 plasma treatment against COVID-19 variant viruses. On this day, the CDCH reported that neutralizing antibodies were detected against all genotypes of the virus currently prevalent in Korea, including virus genotypes S, L, V, G, GR, GH, GV groups, as well as nine types including the UK and South Africa variants.

The plasma treatment, made by concentrating and formulating antibodies and immunoglobulins contained in the blood of recovered COVID-19 patients, formed antibodies capable of neutralizing not only the existing virus but also the more transmissible variant viruses.

At a briefing, Kwon Jun-wook, the second deputy director of the CDCH, explained, "The plasma treatment showed neutralizing antibody ability, that is, therapeutic effect, against the UK and South African variants at the cellular level." However, Deputy Director Kwon added that these results were not based on human trials.

He analyzed the reason for the efficacy of this plasma treatment, stating, "While antibody treatments target the main regions of the spike protein, plasma treatments are believed to have formed antibodies not only against the spike protein but also against parts corresponding to the shell of the COVID-19 virus and the critical nucleocapsid region."

Director Kwon said, "However, since this confirmation is at the cellular level, the actual therapeutic efficacy needs to be reviewed based on the results of pharmaceutical companies' clinical trials." He also explained, "Because plasma treatments are manufactured and secured based on plasma donated by confirmed patients, large-scale production and mass securing are fundamentally difficult. Therefore, as currently, treatment use approval will proceed based on medical professionals' judgment upon application."

Currently, clinical trials of the plasma treatment by pharmaceutical companies are underway, with Phase 2 clinical trial results expected to be analyzed next month. According to the CDCH, as of this day, 42 cases of antibody treatments have been approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for use in medical settings for treatment purposes other than clinical trials. The system for treatment purposes other than clinical trials allows the use of unapproved clinical trial drugs for treatment when no other treatment options exist or for severe patients.

As of the 18th, there were 6,658 registered plasma donors, including individuals and groups, of which plasma collection was completed for 4,213 people.

Meanwhile, other COVID-19 treatments include Gilead Sciences Korea's 'Veklury (Remdesivir),' which was administered to 5,259 patients at 122 hospitals nationwide as of midnight the previous day, and Celltrion's domestically produced first antibody treatment 'Rekkirona (Regdanvimab),' which was administered to 681 patients at 48 hospitals.

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