BT One "Introducing COVID-19 Treatment and Prevention Technology Transfer... Proceeding with Therapeutic Development and Spray Preventive Product Business"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] BT One, a KOSPI-listed company, announced on the 30th that it has acquired innovative technology for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19 from Dr. Kim Hong-ryeol, CEO of Haim Bio. BT One is the largest shareholder of Haim Bio, holding 21% of its shares.

BT One stated, "On the 27th, we acquired the patent for a COVID-19 treatment and preventive agent using polyphosphate," adding, "Since it is possible to sell a spray-type product that can prevent airborne infection spread through droplets, COVID-19 can be prevented via humidifiers and indoor air circulators."

Primarily aiming to industrialize the preventive agent, the company is currently undergoing the European CE-IVD approval process for medical device sales. After approval, they plan to manufacture and sell the preventive products (spray types) first. The appropriateness of the treatment development has been confirmed through tests conducted by research institutions in Korea and Italy.

A company official said, "Recently, research results suggesting the possibility of development through the new drug development artificial intelligence (AI) program at the University of Cambridge in the UK have started since May and the results are nearly finalized," adding, "It has been confirmed in chimpanzees and human pharyngeal cells that polyphosphate can completely block the replication function of COVID-19, and since N1, N2, N3, and many key genes related to replication ability were observed to be 100% inhibited, we expect the commercialization speed of the treatment to accelerate."

Haim Bio, where BT One holds the largest shareholder position, is developing ‘Starvanip’ (Starvanip, NYH817100), a next-generation anticancer drug candidate that starves and kills only cancer cells. Currently, phase 1 clinical trials are underway at Yonsei University Severance Hospital’s oncology department targeting various cancer patients in Korea who have failed standard treatments, with plans to complete phase 1 in the first half of next year and proceed to phase 2.

BT One CEO Kang Ji-yeon said, "The world is responding sensitively to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I feel rewarded that BT One has entered the related industry to help many people," adding, "In addition, we are accelerating the establishment of our own research and development (R&D) center, including a 300-pyeong GMP facility located in Seongsu-dong, to jointly promote various new drug development projects with Haim Bio."