Daewoong Pharmaceutical Submits Clinical Trial Plan for COVID-19 Treatment in the Philippines

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Daewoong Pharmaceutical announced on the 8th that it has submitted an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for 'DWRX2003' to the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the development of a treatment for COVID-19.

According to Daewoong Pharmaceutical, DWRX2003 demonstrated a reduction in viral titers in nasal discharge and lung tissues in in vivo efficacy tests conducted on animals infected with COVID-19. It also showed an anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, thereby preventing inflammation in lung tissues.

Daewoong Pharmaceutical plans to begin Phase 1 clinical trials locally once it obtains approval from the Philippine FDA.

Earlier in May, the company also submitted an IND to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in India and expects to receive approval within this month. The clinical trial results will be used as submission data for approval in advanced countries such as the United States and Europe, where clinical trial results on Caucasian populations are required.

Jeon Seung-ho, CEO of Daewoong Pharmaceutical, stated, "We aim to rapidly conduct clinical trials of the COVID-19 treatment DWRX2003 by fully mobilizing our global research and development infrastructure centered on countries where Daewoong Pharmaceutical has branch offices."