BioLeaders Confirms Efficacy of Gamma PGA Oral COVID-19 Treatment Substance

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] BioLeaders, a drug development specialist company, announced on the 29th that its new drug substance gamma PGA (gamma PGA, BLS-H01) confirmed its therapeutic effect against COVID-19 in preclinical efficacy tests.

BioLeaders explained that efficacy was confirmed in the Ministry of Science and ICT's 3rd supplementary budget project, "Preclinical trials of therapeutics and vaccines using COVID-19 small animal (mouse, hamster) infection models."

A company official stated, "In the experimental results, the infected control group (untreated after COVID-19 infection) animals began to experience rapid weight loss from days 3 to 4 post-infection, showing about a 22% weight loss by day 7," adding, "Their activity levels also significantly decreased from day 3 post-infection (to about 25% of normal animal activity), and about half of them died by days 7 to 8." He continued, "In contrast, the treated group (administered gamma PGA) animals showed suppressed weight loss, and notably, one individual had almost no weight loss."

He emphasized that improvements in activity and mortality were also observed. He said, "Compared to the 50% survival rate of the infected control group, the treated group showed a significant difference with an 83% survival rate," adding, "At the end of the observation period, organ weight and histopathological examination results revealed characteristic trends in the spleen, the most important immune organ."

He further explained, "The spleen weight of the infected control group showed a marked decrease compared to uninfected animals, whereas the treated group maintained spleen weight at the same level as uninfected animals," and "Histological examination of the spleen showed severe atrophy of the white pulp (% area of white pulp) in the infected control group, while the treated group's spleen white pulp was the same as that of uninfected animals."

The head of BioLeaders’ new drug development division said, "We are coordinating schedules with the project team for follow-up experiments to maximize efficacy, including evaluating gamma PGA efficacy at various doses," and added, "Research on COVID-19 treatment will also proceed, including combination treatments with candidate substances that have strong anti-inflammatory and antiviral functions."

A company official stated, "Gamma PGA, completed based on Humamax technology, has secured efficacy and safety in existing clinical trials and confirmed therapeutic efficacy against COVID-19," adding, "As an immunotherapeutic agent that enhances immunity after infection rather than an antiviral substance, it is expected to have high therapeutic effects without resistance even against variant viruses, which are a global issue."