Kukdong Confirms Effectiveness in Animal Tests at Defense Science Research Institute Linked to KDCA COVID-19 Treatment Development

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] Kookdong recently confirmed the therapeutic effect of ‘CT101’ on COVID-19 through efficacy tests in animal models, the company announced on the 28th. ‘CT101’ is a substance under development as a treatment for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

The company explained that this was in response to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s supplementary requirement for ‘submission of in vivo efficacy test data’ during the application process for Phase 2 clinical trials. The study was conducted at the Agency for Defense Development through the ‘Interagency Project for COVID-19 Therapeutics Development’ led by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

Hamsters were infected with the COVID-19 virus, and then the inflammation levels in the lungs infected with COVID-19 were compared after treatment with CT101. As a result, the group treated with CT101 showed about a 50% reduction in lung damage compared to the untreated group.

According to Kookdong’s Bio Business Division, in addition to the hamster efficacy test using the COVID-19 virus, a mouse efficacy test using the influenza virus was also conducted. All mice infected with the virus died, but those treated with Kookdong’s ‘CT101’ did not die and recovered like the healthy control group.

Interest in therapeutics for variant COVID-19 and other viruses continues to grow. ‘CT101’ has long been established as a safe anti-inflammatory agent, including for arthritis treatment, and has experience in elderly and pediatric populations. If successfully developed, it is expected to be positioned as a therapeutic agent for various age groups.

Oh Chang-gyu, CEO of Kookdong, stated, "We have been actively preparing to prove the supplementary requests from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety during the previous CT101 clinical application. Although the schedule was delayed compared to the plan due to the process of conducting the study with a reliable research institution and designing the research, we were able to achieve positive results by doing our best to develop a COVID-19 therapeutic."

Based on the results obtained this time, Kookdong has prepared the clinical trial protocol (P2a) and has also completed submitting a response to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety regarding the supplementation for the Phase 2 clinical trial of COVID-19.