“Corona treatment, full support from the state”
Government “in pre-purchase negotiations with global pharmaceutical companies”
U.S. University of Georgia research team “Probenecid, a gout treatment, is effective in preventing and treating Corona”
Amid growing interest in oral novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) treatment, the government announced that the government would provide full support for the introduction of the treatment.
Son Young-rae, head of the social strategy division of the Central Accident Management Headquarters of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said, “Corona treatment is fully supported by the state.” He continued, “The entire treatment process is covered by the state through health insurance and the national budget, so there is no actual burden on the public. ” he added.
Merck (MSD), Pfizer (US), and Roche (Switzerland) are conducting phase 3 clinical trials for oral COVID-19 treatment. The government said that it is in the process of negotiating with these global pharmaceutical companies for pre-purchase.
MSD’s oral treatment ‘Molnupiravir’, which is the most advanced in development, is expected to apply for emergency use approval to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as early as October. Molnupiravir is an experimental antiviral, oral, and developed for the treatment of influenza.
There are a total of six products currently undergoing clinical trials as oral COVID-19 treatment in Korea. ▲Pfizer Korea Pharmaceutical PF-07321332 (Phase 2/3), ▲Shinpoong Pharm Pyramax Tablet (Phase 2-3), ▲Daewoong Pharmaceutical DWJ1248 Tablet (Phase 1~3), ▲Jinwon Life Sciences GLS-1027 (Phase 2) , ▲ Dongwha Pharm DW2008S (Phase 2), ▲ Crystal Genomics CG-CAM20 (Phase 2).
Recently, a study showed that ‘Probenecid’, which is used to treat gout, may also be helpful in the treatment of COVID-19.
A research team at the University of Georgia in the US revealed that probenecid showed inhibitory effects not only on COVID-19 but also on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and influenza virus.
Probenecid is a drug used to treat gout or chronic gouty arthritis. Initially, it was a drug designed to suppress the secretion of renal tubules to maintain a high blood concentration of penicillin.
The researchers found that probenecid blocks the viral replication process, reducing the ability of the virus to infect human cells. Study co-author Professor Ralph Tripp said probenecid was “effective against all RNA respiratory viruses tested, including COVID-19.”
The results of this study were published in the international academic journal ‘Scientific Reports’.
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