ZennCell, "Expecting Omicron Treatment Effectiveness of COVID-19 Therapeutic"... Patent Application

Clinical Candidate 'ES16001' Shows Therapeutic Potential in Binding Prediction Experiment
Joint Research with Sejong Medical and MBiome

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] Genencell announced on the 8th that it has filed a patent for the treatment effect of its oral COVID-19 therapeutic candidate ‘ES16001’ against the Omicron variant virus.

The patent concerns a composition for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 Omicron variant virus (SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant virus) infection containing an active ingredient isolated from the extract of Dambalsu.

Genencell explained that the background of the patent application was the confirmation of therapeutic potential in additional research on the response of ‘ES16001’ to the Omicron variant, conducted jointly with the research team of its largest shareholder Sejong Medical and the bio-venture MBiome Therapeutics.

The research team applied molecular docking analysis and a deep learning-based binding prediction program to conduct binding prediction (an analytical method quantifying the action) experiments between the Omicron virus protein and the main components of ‘ES16001’, producing positive results.

In the experiment, the average binding energy value of ‘Geraniin’, one of the main components of ‘ES16001’, to the Omicron variant virus spike protein (surface protrusion) RBD (receptor-binding domain of virus-host cell receptor) was -12.35 kcal/mol, which was higher than the average binding energy value of -9.43 kcal/mol for the original virus ‘SARS-CoV-2’. It was predicted to be more effective against the variant virus than the existing COVID-19 virus.

Jung Yongjun, co-CEO of Genencell, said, "We expect the therapeutic under development to show high efficacy against various variants," adding, "Even if the Omicron variant becomes the dominant strain of COVID-19, we will be able to proceed with clinical trials as originally planned."

Genencell plans to strengthen collaboration with Sejong Medical’s research and development division, starting with joint research. ‘ES16001’ is a new drug candidate based on a novel material extracted from the leaves of the native Korean plant Dambalsu. It is currently undergoing domestic Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials as part of global clinical trials. Clinical trial applications (IND) will soon be submitted in countries including Europe and India.

‘ES16001’ works by binding its main active ingredient to the RBD of the causative virus of COVID-19, ‘SARS-CoV-2’, inhibiting viral activity and thereby suppressing viral infection and replication. Genencell expects it to have effects in preventing host cell invasion and reactivation.

Genencell had previously obtained a patent in January this year for a ‘coronavirus treatment containing Dambalsu extract as an active ingredient’.