[Featured Stock] Shinpung Pharmaceutical's Rheumatoid Drug and Antimalarial Agent Suppress COVID-19... Spotlight on 'Piramax'

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] Shinpung Pharmaceutical is showing strong performance. It appears that news about the efficacy of rheumatoid arthritis and anti-malarial drugs in suppressing COVID-19 has had an impact.

As of 10:16 AM on the 5th, Shinpung Pharmaceutical was trading at 87,500 KRW, up 5.80% (4,800 KRW) compared to the previous trading day.

According to recent medical reports, a team led by Professor Hannam Sik at the University of Cambridge in the UK analyzed 1,917 FDA-approved drug components using artificial intelligence (AI) and selected two drugs that could be used as COVID-19 treatments. The research results were published in the June issue of the international academic journal Science Advances. The two substances are ‘Sulfasalazine,’ used for treating rheumatoid arthritis, and ‘Proguanil,’ used for treating malaria.

The research team selected the final candidates through a total of five stages. First, they analyzed research literature and data related to COVID-19 and identified 148 infection pathways. Then, among the 1,917 approved drugs, they selected 200 drugs that could control these pathways.

Meanwhile, it is known that Artesunate, the main ingredient of Piramax developed by Shinpung Pharmaceutical, was also included. Additionally, 40 components are undergoing clinical trials worldwide to develop COVID-19 treatments.

Shinpung Pharmaceutical is about to announce the analysis results of Phase 2 clinical trial data for ‘Piramax tablets’ in Korea. The trial was conducted on a total of 113 COVID-19 patients at 13 university hospitals nationwide.

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