[Special Stock] Theragen Etex Participates in COVID-19 RNA Transcriptome Analysis...Expectations for Government Support in Drug Development

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] Teragen Etex's stock price is rising. The news that it participated in research on ribonucleic acid (RNA) transcriptome analysis of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) appears to have influenced the stock price.

At 10:40 a.m. on the 10th, Teragen Etex was trading at 11,100 won, up 29.67% from the previous day.

The Institute for Basic Science (IBS) announced the day before that a research team led by a professor from the Department of Biological Sciences at Seoul National University, who leads the RNA research group, and Professor Jang Hyesik's team from the Department of Biological Sciences, in joint research with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, completed a high-resolution genetic map of SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19. The research results were first published online in the world-renowned international journal Cell on the same day.

It is expected to make a decisive contribution to the development of high-precision diagnostic reagents and therapeutics for COVID-19 in the future. While previous studies only decoded coronavirus RNA, this study is characterized by decoding all RNA copied and subgenomic RNA as the virus enters and proliferates in host cells within the human body.

Teragen Etex Bio Research Institute participated in the high-resolution genetic map research of SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen causing COVID-19. It is known to have been responsible for genome analysis. Teragen Etex used genome decoding technologies such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) to analyze the genome and RNA transcriptome of SARS-CoV-2.

Earlier, on the 17th of last month, Teragen Etex discovered candidate substances for COVID-19 therapeutics using its own artificial intelligence (AI) drug development platform technology and genome analysis technology. It conducted screening research targeting 1,880 drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Through this, five candidate therapeutic substances were discovered.

Teragen Etex plans to conduct drug efficacy tests with reputable research institutions on the acquired candidate substances, and additionally discover candidate substances through virtual screening of 12 additional target proteins. For the verified drugs, it plans to apply for clinical trial approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety aiming for early approval.

The day before, President Moon Jae-in visited the Pasteur Institute and expressed interest and expectations regarding the development of COVID-19 therapeutics using drug repositioning. President Moon also said, "Even if development is completed, there have been cases where efforts or costs invested in development were not properly compensated," and promised, "Even if there is no economic or commercial viability in the market, the government will purchase and stock sufficient quantities to ensure 100% compensation for the efforts and costs invested in development."

The Pasteur Institute is conducting drug efficacy tests on substances discovered domestically.