Korea BNC Expects Antroquinonol to Inhibit Delta and Lambda Variant Viruses

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] The Delta and Lambda variant virus infections related to COVID-19 are spreading rapidly. The so-called 'breakthrough infections,' where even vaccinated individuals become infected, are also acting as obstacles to overcoming COVID-19. While vaccination reduces the probability of severe illness or death, it has not slowed the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant, increasing public anxiety. There is a growing call for a strategy that enhances defense by forming neutralizing antibodies against the COVID-19 virus through vaccination and reduces the probability of severe illness and death in infected patients through therapeutics.

On the 11th, Korea BNC expected that antroquinonol would inhibit viral proliferation by suppressing the substrate of Rho GTPase (RAS-related GTPase A), which is involved in the virus's entry, movement, and proliferation, and by inhibiting the interacting NSP7 protein. NSP7 is known to maintain high complementarity despite species differences in coronaviruses.

Currently, COVID-19 therapeutics approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) include remdesivir and antibodies. However, their antiviral effects are not perfect, and they may lack the ability to simultaneously prevent inflammation, reduced lung function, and lung damage caused by COVID-19 virus infection. There is an increasing need for therapeutics that can sufficiently maintain antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-pulmonary fibrosis effects during COVID-19 virus infection.

A Korea BNC official explained, "The emergence and spread of variant viruses are caused by the fact that the RBD (Receptor Binding Domain) region of the spike structural protein on the surface of the COVID-19 virus is prone to mutations."

Although remdesivir targets the non-structural protein NSP12 (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, a non-structural protein), it is known that its antiviral effect is insufficient.

Antroquinonol, expected to inhibit viral proliferation, showed over 90% antiviral effect in laboratory tests. Additionally, it effectively suppressed inflammatory factors such as IL6 and pulmonary fibrosis factors such as TGFß1 and Col4A1. This is why antroquinonol is gaining attention as a promising candidate for COVID-19 treatment.

Korea BNC holds exclusive manufacturing and sales rights for antroquinonol in Korea, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine. Through Taiwan Golden Biotech, it is conducting Phase 2 clinical trials approved by the U.S. FDA as a COVID-19 treatment candidate in the United States, Peru, and Argentina. The ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial for antroquinonol COVID-19 treatment is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of this year, and based on successful Phase 2 results, Korea BNC plans to apply for emergency use authorization from the U.S. FDA.

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