[Featured Stock] Prostemix, Patent for Suppressing Expression of COVID-19 Symptom 'Cytokine Storm'

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] Prostemics is soaring.

At 9:06 a.m. on the 19th, Prostemics was trading at 3,305 won, up 18.04% from the previous day.

Interest in Cytokine Storm has increased following the death of a 17-year-old boy suspected of having the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in Daegu. Cytokine Storm is a condition in which the immune system's response to a virus becomes excessively strong for certain reasons, causing an unnecessary large-scale inflammatory reaction. This leads to a rapid decline in organ function, severe respiratory distress, and ultimately death.

During Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), shock deaths due to multiple organ failure were also reported. There is growing concern that young and healthy individuals may experience excessive immune responses.

The National Health Commission (NHC) of China has recommended 'Actemra' by Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche Holding AG as a treatment for COVID-19 patients showing severe lung damage. Actemra does not kill the virus but inhibits the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 receptor. IL-6 has been identified as a major cause of excessive immune response in COVID-19 patients.

Prostemics recently obtained a patent related to the use of microvesicles derived from kefir grains. The microvesicles derived from kefir grains, patented by Prostemics, have excellent effects in suppressing the expression of representative inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in immune cells and colon cells. The company explained that it can effectively prevent, improve, or treat various inflammatory diseases.