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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Celltrion's COVID treatment has efficacy in Phase 2 trials

Celltrion's COVID-19 treatment Regkirona (CT-P59) / Courtesy of CelltrionBy Nam Hyun-wooCelltrion said Wednesday that its Regkirona anti-COVID-19 drug, also known as CT-P59, has had its efficacy proven for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate symptoms of the coronavirus disease in global Phase 2 clinical trials. This bodes well for the company to win domestic approval for use of the treatment in Korea.The biotech company filed for conditional approval for use with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Dec. 29. Given the ministry has shortened its review process to a maximum 40 days and the trials have shown a favorable outcome, the treatment is expected to be marketed here as early as late this month.According to Celltrion, Regkirona reduced the number of patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms from progressing to the severe stage requiring hospitalization by 54 percent compared to a placebo, during Phase 2 trials on 327 patients in Korea, Romania, Spain and the United States. Among those aged over 50, the rate was 68 percent.Also, the time required for clinical r

Jan 13, 2021By Nam Hyun-woo
Celltrion's COVID treatment has efficacy in Phase 2 trials

Korea's COVID-19 cases exceed 70,000

A medical worker wearing protective gear prepares to take a sample at coronavirus testing site in Seoul, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. APSouth Korea reached another bleak milestone in its battle against the coronavirus pandemic as its total COVID-19 caseload broke the 70,000 mark Wednesday, but health authorities said the winter wave showed signs of slowing down. The virus, which was first reported in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019, has killed more than 1,100 people in South Korea. New cases stood at 562 earlier in the day to raise the total to 70,212, surpassing the threshold 12 months after the nation's first confirmed case on Jan. 20 last year, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). South Korea had managed to bring the outbreak under control in the previous two waves, but the third wave, which began in late November last year, was particularly worrisome because it was quickly spreading in densely populated Seoul and neighboring areas.It took only 13 days for the number to rise from 60,000 to top 70,000, marking the second-fastest pace of the

Jan 13, 2021
Korea's COVID-19 cases exceed 70,000
  • New virus cases below 600 for 2nd day

New virus cases below 600 for 2nd day

A man walks by the display of the capital city's logo near the Seoul City Hall in Seoul, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. APThe number of new coronavirus cases in South Korea remained in the 500 range for the second day in a row Wednesday, indicating that the third wave of the pandemic is possibly heading for a marked slowdown after a peak on the back of monthlong tougher virus curbs. The country added 562 more COVID-19 cases, including 536 local infections, raising the total caseload to 70,212, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).The total caseload surpassed the 70,000 mark since the first confirmed case was reported in the country on Jan. 20, 2020, the KDCA said.Wednesday's daily caseload is slightly up from 537 recorded a day earlier.The daily number of new cases has remained below the 1,000 mark this month except for two days, the KDCA said. An average of 628 new patients was reported during the cited period, it said. The country has enforced the Level 2.5 social distancing scheme, which is the second highest in the country's five-tier scheme, in the greate

Jan 13, 2021
New virus cases below 600 for 2nd day
  • Korea's COVID-19 cases exceed 70,000

Concerns rise over Back to Jerusalem center infection cluster

Sangju Mayor Kang Young-seok attaches a written order of a facility shutdown at the entrance of BTJ's center in Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province, Jan. 7. / Courtesy of Sangju City GovernmentBy Lee Hyo-jinConcerns are rising over an infection cluster among followers of an evangelistic religious sect showing an uncooperative attitude to the government's antivirus efforts. The situation is reminding many of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus which was at the center of public criticism for not following state orders during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic last year. The infection cluster is at the Back to Jerusalem (BTJ) center located in Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province. The center is the headquarters of InterCP International, a sect with some 1,400 missionaries dispatched to several countries. The facility is used to hold missionary training camps offering lessons on biblical and spiritual studies, according to its official website. The missionary group was found to have conducted several training camps at the center from November to December last year, even when indoor

Jan 12, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Concerns rise over Back to Jerusalem center infection cluster
  • Cafe, gym owners file lawsuits against government over COVID-19 losses

Flower sales stunted by online ceremonies

Bouquets are on display at a flower shop in the Yangjae Flower Market in Seoul, Tuesday. With schools nationwide canceling their graduation ceremonies or switching them to online events amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, local flower markets are taking a direct hit from the plunging demand for their products. / Yonhap

Jan 12, 2021
Flower sales stunted by online ceremonies

Hanmi Pharm seeks FDA approvals of two novel drugs

A screen capture of Hanmi Pharmaceutical CEO Kwon Se-chang's presentation during the 2021 J.P. Morgan Health Care Conference, Tuesday. Courtesy of Hanmi PharmaceuticalBy Nam Hyun-wooHanmi Pharmaceutical said it is expecting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve two novel drugs this year, raising expectations over the company's pipeline. The announcement was made during the J.P. Morgan Health Care Conference, Tuesday.The drug maker also claimed it possesses the facilities to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines and develop products covering prevention, testing and treatment of the disease. “Expectations over Hanmi's pipeline are the highest ever, with two novel drugs anticipated to win approvals from the FDA in the near future,” Hanmi Pharmaceutical CEO Kwon Se-Chang said during the conference.The two novel drugs are Rolontis, a biologic used to treat neutropenia or an abnormally low concentration of a type of white blood cell called neutrophil; and Oraxol, an oral anticancer treatment for metastatic breast cancer. Rolontis, licensed out to the U.S. pharmaceutica

Jan 12, 2021By Nam Hyun-woo
Hanmi Pharm seeks FDA approvals of two novel drugs

Cafe, gym owners file lawsuits against government over COVID-19 losses

Members of associations of pilates studios or fitness gyms in South Korea on Tuesday demand in front of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office in Suwon the country repeal a regulation that bans gatherings at indoor gyms to prevent spread of COVID-19 disease. YonhapCafe and gym owners are filing separate lawsuits against the government this week seeking billions of won in compensation for losses suffered under COVID-19 business restrictions, industry groups said.At the Seoul Western District Court on Tuesday, 203 gym owners belonging to the Pilates and Fitness Business Association filed for 5 million won (US$4,549) each for about 1 billion won in total.It was their second such suit. The group demanded 765 million won in its first suit filed with the Seoul Southern District Court last month."If the government imposed an assembly ban and other restrictions simply due to the belief that (saliva) sprays more at indoor sports facilities, they must reconsider," Park Joo-hyung, head of the association, said during a press conference outside the Seoul Western District Court, claiming that

Jan 12, 2021
Cafe, gym owners file lawsuits against government over COVID-19 losses
  • Concerns rise over Back to Jerusalem center infection cluster

New virus cases in 500s on tougher curbs, alert high over potential upticks

A prayer center in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, is closed on Jan. 11 following the city government's mandate to control COVID-19 infection risks there. The closure, continuing indefinitely, came after a cluster infection was reported among attendees to a gathering there that was held despite the central government's warning against small gatherings to prevent the disease's further spread. YonhapThe number of new coronavirus cases in South Korea remained in the 500 range on Tuesday, possibly indicating that the country's virus curve is flattening on the back of tightened social distancing measures.The country added 537 more COVID-19 cases, including 508 local infections, raising the total caseload to 69,651, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).Tuesday's daily caseload is slightly up from 451 recorded a day earlier.Monday's daily caseload marked the first time since Dec. 1 that the daily figure fell to the 400 range and also a sharp drop from 665 recorded on Sunday, 641 on Saturday and 674 on Friday.Health authorities have said the pace of virus tra

Jan 12, 2021
New virus cases in 500s on tougher curbs, alert high over potential upticks
  • Moon says all citizens will be given free COVID-19 vaccines

Two Busan churches ordered to shut down for violating in-person worship ban

Saegyero Church in Busan is ordered to shut down by Gangseo District Office, Monday, after defying antivirus distancing measures. YonhapTwo churches in the southeastern port city of Busan have been ordered to shut down after repeatedly holding in-person worship services in violation of the pandemic-driven social distancing rules, local officials said Monday.Under the administrative orders by Busan's ward offices, the two Protestant churches ― Saegyero and Seobu ― have been forced to shut down for defying the antivirus distancing measures. Busan has been under the second-strongest social distancing scheme of Level 2.5 since Dec. 15, under which churches across the city are prohibited from on-site worship services and required to replace them with online ones. Saegyero was initially ordered by ward officials on Sunday to stop in-person services, right after hosting a Sunday service attended by 1,090 people. But the church defied the initial order and pushed ahead with an early-morning service again Monday, resulting in the shut-down order. About 200 people attended the latest service.

Jan 11, 2021
Two Busan churches ordered to shut down for violating in-person worship ban

Moon's plan for free COVID-19 vaccination questioned

People watch a TV screen showing President Moon Jae-in's New Year's address at Seoul Station, Monday. YonhapBy Jung Da-minPresident Moon Jae-in's plan to provide free public vaccinations for COVID-19 has brought controversy over how the government could secure the related funding. Delivering his New Year address from Cheong Wa Dae, Monday, Moon said the government will make sure that all the people will be vaccinated free of charge in accordance with priorities, with the inoculations set to begin as early as next month.The plan may have been announced to regain support following earlier public criticism of the government, with some claiming that Korea was lagging behind other nations in securing vaccines as it was too focused on promoting its disease control responses.Although this announcement will please some members of the public who are in full support of a free vaccination program, some observers have expressed concern over the country's financial soundness. Estimations suggest the government would need to spend at least 4 trillion won ($3.6 billion), including 2 trillion w

Jan 11, 2021
Moon's plan for free COVID-19 vaccination questioned
  • Moon says all citizens will be given free COVID-19 vaccines
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