Naivek Signs Agreement with Chungbuk National University for Development of Viral Infection and Inflammatory Disease Treatments

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] Naivek announced on the 29th that it has signed a mutual Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Chungbuk National University to conduct joint research for the development of peptide-based antiviral infection and inflammation treatments.

This MOU aims to conduct domestic research on Naivek's COVID-19 treatment 'NIPEP-ACOV,' which is being jointly developed in Europe and the United States through the development of peptide-based infection and inflammation diagnostics and therapeutics. Naivek plans to activate mutual research outcome exchanges by conducting joint research with Professor Kim Hye-gwon of the Department of Microbiology at Chungbuk National University.

Headquartered in Chungcheongbuk-do, known as the 'Bio Mecca,' Naivek was selected as a 'Star Company' in 2018 and has been jointly conducting government research projects with Professor Park Yoon-shin of the Department of Microbiology at Chungbuk National University, which led to this MOU.

Professor Kim Hye-gwon's team at the Department of Microbiology, Chungbuk National University, has been a virus expert continuously researching bat viruses since the 2015 MERS outbreak and will be responsible for verifying and screening the virus proliferation inhibition effects of Naivek's 'NIPEP-ACOV.'

Naivek has already completed verification of the dual efficacy of virus infection inhibition and cytokine storm suppression through joint research with overseas biotech companies. Through this agreement, preclinical and clinical trials will be conducted in mutual linkage with Chungbuk National University's virus expert research teams to accelerate the development of COVID-19 treatments and other therapeutics, and joint patents will be registered for the research outcomes.

A Naivek official stated, "Among the pipelines that Naivek independently possesses, it was deemed most important to develop infectious/inflammatory disease treatments applicable to COVID-19 based on candidate substances whose efficacy has already been verified, and thus we decided to proceed with domestic joint research following the United States and Europe."

He added, "We plan to form a global consortium with research teams from Seoul National University and Chungbuk National University, as well as major overseas biotech companies in Korea, Europe, and the United States, to develop drugs for diagnosis and treatment related to infections and inflammatory diseases caused by viruses."