Daewoong Pharmaceutical: "Main Ingredient in Urusa Shows Improvement Signals for Post-COVID-19 Syndrome"

"Symptom Improvement Observed in Patients 2 to 6 Months After Infection"

Daewoong Pharmaceutical announced on March 9 that ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), the main ingredient in Urusa, showed signs of symptom improvement in patients suffering from post-COVID-19 syndrome, specifically in the group of patients 2 to 6 months after infection.

The results of this study were published online in advance on March 3 (local time) in the international journal Annals of Internal Medicine. The study was conducted as part of a research project by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, led by Professor Kim Sunghan of the Infectious Diseases Department at Asan Medical Center. Asan Medical Center and Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital participated in the trial, which evaluated the therapeutic potential of metformin and UDCA through a randomized controlled clinical trial in patients diagnosed with post-COVID-19 syndrome from July 2024 to March of last year.

The symptom improvement rate in the UDCA treatment group within 2 to 6 months after COVID-19 infection was 81.6%, significantly higher than 57.1% in the placebo group. Daewoong Pharmaceutical

The study found that, among patients 2 to 6 months after COVID-19 infection, the symptom improvement rate in the UDCA group was 81.6%, which was significantly higher than the 57.1% observed in the placebo group. However, in the group of patients more than 6 months post-infection, this improvement signal was not observed. Daewoong Pharmaceutical stated, "This suggests the importance of a timing-based approach in the treatment of post-COVID-19 syndrome."

In addition, the group of patients whose symptoms improved showed a tendency towards decreased inflammation-related markers, and this change was more pronounced in the group 2 to 6 months after infection. However, the company explained that further analysis is needed to determine whether the changes in inflammation are due to the effect of the drug.

Post-COVID-19 syndrome is a public health issue drawing attention from the World Health Organization (WHO) and major health authorities, characterized by a variety of symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and cognitive decline that persist for an extended period after infection. Currently, management strategies focus on rehabilitation and symptom relief, but clinical evidence for drug treatments remains limited.

UDCA, the main ingredient in Urusa, has long been used in the field of liver diseases, particularly for improving liver function. Recently, studies have also been published on its preventive effect against gallstone formation during rapid weight loss and its potential in preventing COVID-19 infection.

Changjae Lee, CEO of Daewoong Pharmaceutical, stated, "With this study as a starting point, we will continue in-depth analyses and follow-up research to more precisely identify the mechanism of action and optimal timing for UDCA treatment."

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