[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] As the number of new COVID-19 cases continues to rise worldwide, concerns are growing that the situation cannot be resolved by vaccines alone. With the increasing need for new vaccines and treatments effective against variant viruses, expectations for Anigen are also rising.
As of 11:49 AM on the 17th, Anigen was trading at 26,100 KRW, up 17.04% (3,800 KRW) compared to the previous trading day.
Minyong Eom, a researcher at Hyundai Motor Securities, stated, "Anigen is developing a new drug pipeline by creating peptides that specifically bind to a new biomarker of cancer cells and virus-infected cells called ‘Nucleorin’," and emphasized, "AGM-380, the ‘Nucleorin-binding peptide,’ should also be noted for its potential development as an antiviral agent against COVID-19."
He explained, "AGM-380 targets Nucleorin, which is not only overexpressed on the cell surface but also confirmed to be expressed inside the cells," adding, "It is conjugated with a CPP (cell-penetrating peptide) to facilitate intracellular delivery."
He continued, "AGM-380 can be divided into AGM-380t and AGM-380d, and since the molecular size is determined by the number of peptide bonds, affecting cell permeability, both forms are being developed."
Researcher Eom explained, "Using Anigen’s Nucleorin-binding peptides, high antiviral effects were observed in cells infected with major human viruses such as influenza virus, bovine coronavirus, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, bovine rotavirus, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, and porcine sapovirus."
He added, "In animal models (mice) infected with influenza virus, the AGM-380 treated group showed improved survival rates compared to the positive control group treated with Tamiflu," and analyzed, "Pathological analysis of lung tissue confirmed a significant reduction in viral titers in the test group."
He stated, "It was also found that inhibiting Nucleorin affects RNA translation, thereby suppressing virus assembly," and "It has been confirmed that experiments are being prepared to verify the effectiveness against the COVID-19 virus."
Researcher Eom judged that attention should be paid to the possibility of developing an antiviral agent effective regardless of COVID-19 variants. He said, "Given that Anigen has prepared its new drug pipeline through proprietary technology, it is necessary to re-evaluate the company as a new drug development firm and focus on future clinical entry and technology transfer." He added, "Anigen is the only company possessing PDC anticancer drug and virus infection treatment technologies with the ‘Nucleorin-binding peptide,’ which proposes a new treatment method as a novel target peptide," and analyzed, "It is undervalued with expected future growth."
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