[Special Stock] JW Jungwoo Pharmaceutical Rises on Strong Demand for Italian COVID-19 'Actemra' Prescriptions

[Asia Economy Reporter Ko Hyung-kwang] JW Pharmaceutical is showing strong performance in the early trading session as news spreads that severe COVID-19 patients experienced symptom improvement with the rheumatoid arthritis treatment 'Actemra.' Actemra is exclusively sold in South Korea by JW Pharmaceutical.

As of 10:25 AM on the 10th, JW Pharmaceutical was trading at 30,200 KRW, up 5.04% from the previous trading day. It had risen more than 15% in the early session.

The stock price appears to have been driven up as Actemra, for which JW Pharmaceutical holds development and commercialization rights, has emerged as a potential COVID-19 treatment. JW Pharmaceutical acquired the development and commercialization rights for Actemra from the global pharmaceutical company Roche and is selling it.

According to major foreign media, among two severe COVID-19 patients in Naples, Italy, who received off-label administration of Actemra, one showed remarkable symptom improvement.

Earlier, Chinese medical authorities recently approved the use of Actemra for treating severe COVID-19 patients.