Fenofibrate Expected as Alternative to COVID-19 Vaccine... KoreaPharma Produces 'Fenocorin Capsule'

Research Published by University of Birmingham and Others
Fenofibric Acid Reduces COVID-19 Virus Infection by up to 70% in Vitro
Effective Vaccine Alternative for Those Difficult to Vaccinate

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] The prescription drug manufacturer Korea Pharma's 'Phenocorin Capsule' is gaining attention for its potential as an inhibitor of COVID-19 virus infection.

On the 18th, according to Korea Pharma, a paper by a joint research team from the University of Birmingham and Keele University in the UK, the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Italy, and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark was published in the latest issue of the international pharmacology journal Frontiers in Pharmacology. The joint research team screened FDA-approved drugs for those with inhibitory effects on COVID-19 virus infection and found the outstanding effect of fenofibrate.

The COVID-19 virus infects host cells by interacting with the ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) receptor, a surface protein of the host cell, using the spike protein on its surface. Fenofibrate is understood to block this interaction.

According to the research results, fenofibrate and its active form fenofibric acid reduced COVID-19 virus infection by up to 70% in in vitro experiments. The same effect was observed in experiments with the Alpha and Beta variant viruses, and the effect on the Delta variant is currently under study and verification.

The research team urged the conduct of clinical trials on COVID-19 patients. If clinical results prove sufficient efficacy of fenofibrate, it is expected to be an effective vaccine alternative for those who have difficulty receiving vaccines, including countries struggling to secure vaccines, children, immunodeficient patients, and patients receiving immunosuppressants.

Korea Pharma holds 'Phenocorin,' which adds choline salt to fenofibric acid, the active form of the dyslipidemia treatment fenofibrate.

The company's formulation not only increases hydrophilicity to enhance absorption but also allows administration regardless of meals. 'Phenocorin' is produced in-house by Korea Pharma as a capsule formulation containing mini tablets identical to the original domestic formulation for the first time in Korea.