'Rekkirona' Global Clinical Head: "Antibody Therapeutics Play a Key Role in Overcoming COVID-19"

"Vaccines and Therapeutics Are Powerful Complements"

Rekkirona (Photo by Celltrion Healthcare)

[Asia Economy Reporter Jihee Kim] The principal investigator who conducted the global clinical trials of the COVID-19 antibody treatment 'Rekkirona,' sold by Celltrion Healthcare, emphasized in an interview with a foreign media outlet that "antibody treatments will play an essential role in overcoming COVID-19."

Dr. Adrian Streinu-Cercel, director of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Romania and president of Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, stated in an interview with EPR, a European pharmaceutical and biotech media outlet, on the 18th (local time), "Monoclonal antibodies are proteins designed to target specific parts of the virus, so they have a clear advantage over other types of COVID-19 treatments due to their lower likelihood of causing unexpected side effects." He also added, "Another strength is that antibody treatments have been prescribed for a long time, sufficiently proving their safety and efficacy."

Regarding why pharmaceutical companies must continue developing COVID-19 treatments amid expanding vaccination efforts, he explained, "There are still countries and certain age groups where vaccination is difficult, so treatments for COVID-19 patients are necessary," and added, "While antibody treatments immediately treat COVID-19 infected patients, vaccines train people's immune systems to respond to COVID-19, making vaccines and treatments powerful complementary agents."

Celltrion recently announced that in the global Phase 3 clinical trial of Rekkirona conducted on 1,315 mild to moderate COVID-19 patients across 13 countries including South Korea, the United States, Spain, and Romania, the rate of progression to severe cases was significantly lower in the Rekkirona group compared to the placebo group, and patients' conditions recovered rapidly.

A Celltrion Healthcare official stated, "Dr. Streinu-Cercel emphasized that the COVID-19 antibody treatment reduces the progression rate to severe cases that may require oxygen therapy or lead to death, thereby lowering the hospitalization rate of outpatients, alleviating the workload of medical personnel fighting on the front lines of COVID-19, and playing a key role in preventing their infection." The official added, "Since Rekkirona is currently in export negotiations with multiple countries, we expect positive impacts to continue."