Kanglip Kim, Director of MFDS, "Rapid Support for COVID-19 Treatment Development... Industry Also Asked to Focus Capabilities"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jung] On the 14th, Kim Kang-rip, Commissioner of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, held a non-face-to-face meeting with domestic COVID-19 treatment developers to share development status.

At this meeting, the difficulties and requests of companies conducting clinical trials of COVID-19 treatments domestically and internationally were heard, and discussions were held on areas where government support is needed.

Industry participants included Celltrion, Chong Kun Dang, Daewoong Pharmaceutical, Shinpoong Pharmaceutical, Bukwang Pharmaceutical, Korea United Pharm, NewGen Therapeutics, ImmunMed, Genexine, GC Green Cross Wellbeing, Shaperon, Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association, and Korea Bio-Pharmaceutical Association.

The developers requested ▲ support in designing clinical trial protocols ▲ rapid approval of clinical trials ▲ sharing information for recruiting clinical trial subjects ▲ government stockpiling of developed treatments ▲ emergency use authorization, among others.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is providing support throughout the entire product lifecycle for the rapid development of COVID-19 treatments, including preparing and sharing guidelines related to treatment development, supporting clinical trial design and information sharing, institutionalizing the Central Clinical Trial Review Committee, and rapid approval or emergency use authorization.

Commissioner Kim Kang-rip stated, "The government will also mobilize all possible administrative power and resources to create an environment where COVID-19 treatments can be rapidly developed," and urged, "The industry should also focus all their capabilities to accelerate treatment development and research."