The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
  • Economic Essay Contest
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Wed, January 27, 2021 | 11:14
Manufacturing
Celltrion says COVID-19 drug candidate shows 'positive results'
Posted : 2020-06-01 17:03
Updated : 2020-06-02 00:34
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
A Celltrion researcher looks at a monitor in this file photo, Monday. Courtesy of Celltrion
A Celltrion researcher looks at a monitor in this file photo, Monday. Courtesy of Celltrion

By Kim Yoo-chul

South Korea's top-tier pharmaceutical company Celltrion said Monday its in-house COVID-19 experimental treatment has shown "positive results" in animal testing, such as improvement in lung lesions.

In a statement, the Incheon-headquartered company added its drug for COVID-19 "specifically demonstrated a 100-fold reduction in viral load" in animal testing.

Regarding the timing of the first human clinical tests for the Celltrion candidate, the statement said, "We are set to start in July, this year." The South Korean manufacturer also added the latest test results indicated Celltrion's candidate "could be a potential treatment for COVID-19" only if the results are replicated in clinical trials.

Leading global pharmaceutical companies are teaming up to develop possible treatments and vaccines for the virus which has so far caused over 370,000 deaths, globally.

Celltrion teamed up with Chungbuk National University College of Medicine for the latest trial. "The trial set out to assess the efficacy of two dosage amounts for the antiviral antibody treatment. In comparison to the placebo-controlled group, the team observed improved recovery in terms of clinical symptom scores such as runny nose, cough and body aches, after the first day of treatment. From the fifth day, significant clinical remission was observed," said the release.

Celltrion said reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) measurement and cell culture-based viral diagnosis were used to analyse specimens from the upper respiratory tract (nasal discharge and nasal turbinate) and the lungs.

"The samples from the high-dose group saw the viral load reduce by 100-fold. Furthermore, lung biopsy showed that both dosage groups saw inflammation returning to normal lung tissue histopathology within six days as well as a shortened recovery time, whereas the placebo-controlled group experienced sustained levels of lung inflammation and complications," according to the statement.

Celltrion has research capability with other types of COVID-19 conditions such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), said Kwon Ki-sung, chief of the company's research and development (R&D) unit, in the statement. "Celltrion has the capability to roll out mass production of the therapeutic antibody treatment once it is ready."


Emailyckim@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter









 
WooriBank
 
  • Korean adoptees demand apology from President Moon
  • Partially clothed girl found dead in rice paddy
  • [INTERVIEW] 'Samsung-Ericsson lawsuit could take longer'
  • 3 officials from McDonald's supplier get suspended prison sentences for selling tainted patties
  • Hyundai Motor bets big on electric cars in 2021
  • Seoul city gov't to launch 3rd council of foreign residents
  • South Korea completes deployment of K-14 sniper rifle
  • Foreigners' property transactions hit new high in 2020
  • Despite 'bubble' worries, stock market to continue rally: analysts
  • Yulchon's reputation rests on 1.6 trillion won Indonesian lawsuit facing client KB
  • Rapper Iron found dead Rapper Iron found dead
  • Is Konglish dealing blow to K-pop's reputation? Is Konglish dealing blow to K-pop's reputation?
  • EXO's D.O. discharged from military service EXO's D.O. discharged from military service
  • Actress and model Song Yu-jung dies at 26 Actress and model Song Yu-jung dies at 26
  • 'The Uncanny Counter' finishes first season with its record high rating, confirms season 2 'The Uncanny Counter' finishes first season with its record high rating, confirms season 2
DARKROOM
  • Biden takes office as 46th president

    Biden takes office as 46th president

  • Biden-Harris inauguration is taking shape

    Biden-Harris inauguration is taking shape

  • Second Trump impeachment

    Second Trump impeachment

  • Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol

    Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol

  • Our children deserve better (Part 2)

    Our children deserve better (Part 2)

WooriBank
  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Ombudsman
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright