Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
HLB Science to showcase sepsis treatment at BIO-Europe
HLB Science researchers conduct research activities. Courtesy of HLB Group
By Baek Byung-yeul
By Baek Byung-yeul
HLB Science, an affiliate of HLB Group, said Friday that it will showcase its sepsis treatment to medical experts and buyers at the BIO-Europe conference, which will be held virtually from Nov. 2 to 4.
BIO-Europe is one of the largest pharmaceutical conferences in the biotechnology industry where around 2,000 companies from over 60 countries participate every year to discuss technology exports and the joint development of new drugs.
During the virtual event, HLB Science plans to introduce its sepsis treatment and super-bacterial antibiotic technologies that are under development to major research institutes and global pharmaceutical companies. Through the showcase, the company also aims to establish partnerships.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition with a mortality rate of between 30 percent and 50 percent. It is primarily treated with prescription antibiotics.
While attempting to control the secondary immune response initiated by the endotoxins released from gram-negative bacteria during sepsis treatment by antibiotics, the company discovered its sepsis treatment candidate DD-S052P.
The company said its candidate has dual functions as it can directly kill the bacteria and binds the endotoxins released as a byproduct of the killing process.
With low toxicity, DD-S052P is a promising candidate to treat endotoxin-releasing gram-negative bacterial infections and multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, which both are currently regarded as serious public health issues.
In July, the company earned an approval for the initial new drug application from the French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM) and is currently preparing clinical trials on 72 healthy people in France.
“By participating in BIO-Europe, we expect we can work closely with global partners with high capabilities in this sector to expand clinical trials in more countries,” said Yoon Jong-sun, the CEO of the company.