[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Junho] Among the candidate treatments for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), a study has found that Remdesivir, an Ebola treatment, shows the most effective antiviral activity compared to malaria and AIDS treatments. Following the asthma treatment ingredient Ciclesonide, more drugs demonstrating excellent efficacy against COVID-19 are being discovered, raising expectations for COVID-19 treatment.
Ebola Treatment More Effective Against COVID-19 Than Malaria Treatment
This is the result of drug repositioning for COVID-19 treatment by the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology. A lower EC50 value indicates higher efficacy, while a higher CC50 value indicates lower toxicity. The SI value is an indicator that considers both efficacy and toxicity simultaneously, with a higher value being evaluated as a drug with better effects.
On the 26th, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) announced the results of drug repositioning studies on a total of eight drugs for COVID-19.
KRICT conducted antiviral efficacy studies at the cellular level on eight drugs expected to have significant effects against COVID-19 both domestically and internationally. These include Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine used for malaria treatment, Kaletra for AIDS treatment, and Remdesivir for Ebola treatment.
The results showed that Remdesivir, which is still under development as a new drug, exhibited the most superior antiviral efficacy. In particular, KRICT conducted experiments on the active form of Remdesivir, mimicking its absorbed form in the body, and found it to have significantly better efficacy than other drugs. KRICT also filed patents for the highly effective drugs it discovered independently.
From Asthma Treatment to Ebola Treatment
The Korea Pasteur Institute evaluated that among 24 excellent drugs showing efficacy against COVID-19, niclosamide (No. 3), cepharanthine (No. 6), and ciclesonide (No. 13) have high therapeutic effectiveness.
KRICT’s research results, following the drug repositioning outcomes from the Korea Pasteur Institute, further enhance the possibility of COVID-19 treatment.
The Korea Pasteur Institute studied a total of 24 drugs and reported that the asthma treatment drug Ciclesonide (product name Alverco) showed excellent antiviral efficacy. This drug was cross-verified by KRICT and also demonstrated superior efficacy. Notably, since this drug is administered as an inhaler acting directly on the lungs, it is considered highly promising as a COVID-19 treatment.
The Korea Pasteur Institute began drug repositioning research targeting the SARS virus last month and continued the repositioning work after obtaining COVID-19 cell lines.
What Is the Medical Staff’s Choice?
Minister Choi Ki-young of the Ministry of Science and ICT attending the Korea-China-Japan Science and Technology Ministers' Meeting held at Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@
The research results will be shared with medical institutions and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Medical professionals will decide whether to use these findings in treating confirmed patients. The Ministry of Science and ICT stated, "We are sharing the research results so that medical staff can use them in treating COVID-19 patients."
The repositioned drugs selected are either already on the market or undergoing clinical trials. For marketed drugs, hospitals can use them for COVID-19 patients after obtaining 'off-label use approval' from the Institutional Review Board (IRB), which reviews drug misuse and abuse. In Japan, observational studies reported efficacy after administering Ciclesonide to COVID-19 patients infected on cruise ships.
On this day, Minister Choi Ki-young of the Ministry of Science and ICT visited KRICT to review the interim results of COVID-19 drug repositioning and discuss how to apply them in medical settings going forward.
He said, "As the number of COVID-19 patients continues to increase, it is necessary to promptly produce drug repositioning outcomes that can be utilized in medical settings," adding, "I hope the additional supplementary budget secured by the Ministry of Science and ICT for drug repositioning will contribute to producing tangible results."
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