Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo is speaking at the 4th meeting of the 'Government-wide Support Committee for COVID-19 Therapeutics and Vaccine Development' held on the 9th at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The government will inject an additional supplementary budget of 193.6 billion KRW to support clinical trials for the development of treatments and vaccines for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
On the 9th, the government discussed the execution plan for the supplementary budget related to the development of COVID-19 treatments and vaccines at the 4th meeting of the Pan-Governmental Support Committee for COVID-19 Treatment and Vaccine Development held at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul.
Specifically, the plan includes ▲ development of treatments and vaccines (111.5 billion KRW) · advancement of quarantine supplies and equipment (35.7 billion KRW) ▲ establishment of research and production infrastructure (39.1 billion KRW) ▲ creation of conditions for utilizing human data and support for patents and international standardization (7.3 billion KRW).
The government will support 94 billion KRW in clinical trial budgets (phases 1 to 3) for companies developing antibody and plasma treatments and three major vaccine platform technologies, with 45 billion KRW allocated for treatments and 49 billion KRW for vaccines.
It will invest 5 billion KRW in discovering candidate substances for treatments and vaccines, and 17.5 billion KRW in bio and medical technology development, including preclinical support for efficacy and toxicity evaluation of candidate substances.
Additionally, to advance quarantine supplies and equipment, 22.2 billion KRW will be provided for developing breathable protective suits, ultra-fast PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, and infectious disease hospital services such as negative pressure wards. Another 13.5 billion KRW will support the localization and advancement of quarantine equipment and diagnostic devices.
To build research and production foundations, budgets have been allocated to areas such as the Public Vaccine Development Support Center (4.3 billion KRW), the National Health and Medical Research Infrastructure Project (16.3 billion KRW), the establishment of clinical trial support systems for rapid development of treatments and vaccines (3.6 billion KRW), and the establishment of a vaccine global industrialization foundation (4.9 billion KRW).
Finally, for creating conditions to utilize human data, patents, and international standardization support, budgets have been distributed to infectious disease medical technology evidence generation research (0.8 billion KRW), K-Quarantine international standardization (3 billion KRW), and R&D strategy support linked to patents in the bio sector including treatments and vaccines (3.5 billion KRW).
At the meeting, the support group also reviewed the progress of measures supporting treatment and vaccine development. The Pan-Governmental Support Committee has established the 'COVID-19 Response Clinical Trial Support TF' under its umbrella to discuss the designation of a national infectious disease clinical trial center aimed at building a network between infectious disease treatment institutions and clinical trial centers.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is promoting regulatory innovation by establishing and operating a rapid review system for clinical trial plans (IND) for treatments and vaccines development, while also focusing on international cooperation. It provides services to the private sector by establishing related facilities, equipment, R&D services, and big data provision systems, and continues to advance these systems.
Going forward, the government plans to operate the Pan-Governmental Support Committee and the Working Committee as a permanent system, regularly checking the implementation status of each task, continuously monitoring domestic and international development trends, and responding swiftly with measures such as securing supply and emergency R&D support as situations require.
At the meeting, Park Neung-hoo, Minister of Health and Welfare, emphasized, "We plan to promptly execute the supplementary budget projects by shortening the application period to quickly develop safe and effective domestically produced treatments and vaccines."
Choi Ki-young, Minister of Science and ICT, stated, "The Ministry of Science and ICT will strengthen strategic support across the bio sector, including infectious diseases, medical devices, bio big data, and new drug development, to elevate national competitiveness to the next level through the response to COVID-19."
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