Met with preclinical trial site personnel on the 19th and announced the policy to "Expand Preclinical Support for Bio Companies"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Minister Lim Hye-sook of the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that support for preclinical trials of companies developing vaccines and therapeutics for COVID-19 and other new and variant infectious diseases will be expanded.
On the afternoon of the 19th, Minister Lim visited the National Primate Center at the Ochang branch of the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology in Ochang, Chungbuk, and held an on-site meeting with researchers, related organizations, and companies involved in preclinical support for COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, announcing this plan. Following her promise to strengthen communication with research sites early in her tenure, this was her first on-site visit. At the meeting, Minister Lim encouraged institutions and researchers supporting preclinical trials for COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines and listened to their difficulties. Preclinical trials are an essential procedure to verify the safety and efficacy of candidate substances through experiments and toxicity evaluations on primates before entering clinical trials for therapeutics and vaccines.
Minister Lim also shared the current status and achievements of support for preclinical trials of COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines with attendees and exchanged opinions on plans to expand support for preclinical trials for therapeutics and vaccines, including the establishment of a national preclinical support center currently underway according to the 'K-Global Vaccine Hub Vision and Strategy' reported at the K-Global Vaccine Hub Promotion Committee chaired by the President on the 5th.
The Ministry of Science and ICT has been operating the 'COVID-19 Response R&D Support Council (Support Council)' since April 2020, centered on infectious disease research institutions such as the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Institut Pasteur Korea, and KMPC to support preclinical trials and other activities. The R&D support achievements for companies by the Support Council have reached 2,119 cases (314 companies) including efficacy analysis, animal model support, and toxicity evaluation. Among the seven domestic companies that have successfully entered the clinical trial phase for COVID-19 vaccines, six received support for preclinical trials.
The National Primate Center of the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology succeeded in developing a primate infection model, becoming the fourth in the world after China, the Netherlands, and the United States, and has supported the development of COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines (11 cases) for eight companies including SK Bioscience. The World Health Organization designated primate experiments as an essential item in preclinical trials for COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccine development in January last year.
Minister Lim said, "Preclinical trials are the first gateway for vaccine and therapeutic development, and it is important to broaden support for preclinical trials for companies and researchers." She added, "I thank the researchers who are supporting companies to enter clinical trials despite difficult circumstances and ask them to continue their efforts." She also stated, "To prepare for new and variant infectious diseases, we will expand support for companies' preclinical trials by establishing a platform that systematically supports preclinical trials."
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