Huons to Acquire Technology License for COVID-19 Therapeutic Agent

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Huons announced on the 7th that it was finally selected as a negotiation candidate for the osteoporosis treatment drug ‘Raloxifene’ and more than 10 new antiviral substances in the ‘New Coronavirus Antiviral Substance and Use Patent Technology Transfer Target Company Contest’ hosted by the Gyeonggi-do Economic Science Promotion Agency.

According to the company, Huons was recognized as a domestic company capable of producing Raloxifene in Gyeonggi-do and with extensive experience in overseas clinical trials and market entry, and was selected as the priority negotiation candidate for technology transfer. The technology transfer includes not only Raloxifene but also development rights for 10 antiviral substances effective against MERS, SARS, and COVID-19, or that enhance innate immunity.

Raloxifene was confirmed to have an inhibitory effect on MERS and SARS viruses through the MERS treatment development project promoted by Gyeonggi-do until 2018. The Gyeonggi-do Economic Science Promotion Agency and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s National Institute of Health confirmed in June that Raloxifene also has inhibitory activity at the cellular level against the COVID-19 virus, and jointly filed a universal coronavirus antiviral use patent for Raloxifene.

Huons is preparing for full-scale clinical trials to verify the COVID-19 virus inhibitory effect of Raloxifene, centered on a clinical trial consortium involving the Gyeonggi-do Economic Science Promotion Agency, Gyeonggi-do Medical Center, Ajou University Medical Center, and Korea University Ansan Hospital. The company plans to finalize detailed contracts soon and establish a close cooperation system with the Gyeonggi-do Economic Science Promotion Agency to accelerate the development of COVID-19 treatments.

Um Ki-an, CEO of Huons, said, “The discovery of Raloxifene is very encouraging not only because of its COVID-19 virus inhibitory effect but also because it is a substance with proven safety as a currently marketed drug,” adding, “We will concentrate all of Huons’ capabilities to ensure thorough development of a domestic COVID-19 treatment.”