Noblegen's Broad-Spectrum Therapeutic Expected to Be a 'Game Changer' in Virus Battle

NobleGen CEO Kim Taehyun
Effective Regardless of Virus Type
Customized Formulation Development Based on Characteristics

"Viruses that infect a small number of hosts and then spread exponentially while causing mutations require early response. The development of broad-spectrum virus vaccines and therapeutics will be a ‘game changer’ in the fight against viruses."

Kim Taehyun, CEO of NovelGen, is posing at the entrance of the Virus Research Institute.
[Photo by Lee Myunghwan]

Kim Taehyun, CEO of NovelGen, answered this way when asked what broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics are. He explained that since these therapeutics directly bind and degrade the genome regardless of the virus type, their versatility and future applicability will be significant. NovelGen is a bio company developing broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of viruses. CEO Kim, who studied genetic engineering at Sungkyunkwan University and earned a master's degree at California State University, USA, founded the corporation in 2001 and has been leading the company since then.

According to CEO Kim, the broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics developed by NovelGen can be applied to multiple viruses regardless of the virus type or mutation form. When the therapeutic is administered to virus-infected patients either as an injection or inhalation, antibody substances enter the infected cells and directly cut exposed nucleic acids (RNA·DNA) of the virus. The principle is to eliminate the viral genome by directly attaching to the viral genome material regardless of the virus type or mutation form. CEO Kim explained that this method allows for expanding scalability and versatility as a broad-spectrum antiviral agent.

NovelGen is developing therapeutics focusing on respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza A, and COVID-19. Currently, NovelGen is developing five pipelines, including three human virus therapeutic substances NVG308, NVG309, NVG310, and animal virus therapeutic substances such as NVG201 and NVG202. Among these, NVG308 is progressing the fastest and has entered the preclinical stage. CEO Kim said, "We have completed the development of large-scale production processes and are undergoing preclinical stages such as toxicity testing," adding, "We expect to enter clinical phase 1 within a year." This substance, transferred from Professor Lee Seokchan of Sungkyunkwan University, is being developed as a broad-spectrum therapeutic by utilizing its characteristic of binding to viral RNA.

The formulation of broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics can also be developed in the form optimal for each virus’s characteristics. Respiratory viruses mainly infecting through the lungs, nasal cavity, and upper respiratory tract are administered in inhalation form, while viruses infecting the abdomen such as norovirus and rotavirus are administered via intraperitoneal injection, optimized according to each virus’s characteristics. Additionally, intravenous injection (IV) for rapid systemic administration or oral forms can also be developed.

A researcher is conducting an experiment at NobleGen's virus laboratory located in Gwanggyo, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do.
[Photo by Lee Myunghwan]

NovelGen’s headquarters is located in Paldal-gu, Suwon, but its main research and development (R&D) and testing laboratories are in Gwanggyo. The reason for situating the research facilities in Gwanggyo is to utilize expensive research equipment available at the nearby Gyeonggi Bio Center and to receive infrastructure support and certain incentives such as research funding. There are also many universities with strong bio research capabilities nearby, including Gyeonggi University, Kyung Hee University, Sungkyunkwan University, and Ajou University, making it easy to secure research personnel. CEO Kim also founded NovelGen at the Natural Science Campus of Sungkyunkwan University, not far from Gwanggyo New Town.

As pandemics are expected to occur periodically in the future, NovelGen’s goal is to accelerate the development of broad-spectrum therapeutics. CEO Kim emphasized, "After influenza A virus, pandemics involving cross-species transmission of viruses with high transmission and fatality rates such as SARS, MERS, Ebola, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), avian influenza, Zika virus, and COVID-19 have occurred," adding, "A paradigm shift is necessary in strategies to respond to viruses that infect a small number of hosts and then spread exponentially while causing mutations."

CEO Kim expressed confidence that the broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutic substances developed by NovelGen could play a ‘game changer’ role. He said, "Given the rapid spread characteristics of viruses and the increased frequency of international travel, the outbreak of new viruses should be considered inevitable," and added, "Since COVID-19, there has been a consensus on the need to develop broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics, and I believe NovelGen’s substances will play an important role."

In addition to red bio such as virus therapeutics, NovelGen is also advancing into the green bio sector. This is to apply the bio technologies they have secured so far to everyday life. The company is currently entering markets such as 'microbiome Akkermansia boosters,' alternative foods, seed industry, and animal pharmaceuticals, selling not only foods like Greek yogurt and grain-based meat substitutes but also animal virus therapeutics and feed additives.

Kim Taehyun, CEO of NovelGen, is explaining the mechanism of action of a broad-spectrum antiviral drug candidate currently under development.
[Photo by Lee Myunghwan]

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