hankyoreh

Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-in explains the development of a treatment for COVID-19 in Seoul on Nov. 20. (Lee Jeong-a, staff photographer)

“By next spring, Korea will be the first ‘corona-free’ country in the world, where people will be able to go about their daily lives without wearing masks.”

Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-jin expressed confidence that South Korea would soon be “corona-free” in a Nov. 20 interview with the Hankyoreh at Celltrion Skincure’s headquarters in Seoul’s Seocho District.

“Globally, there is ample vaccine production but a shortage of treatments, but Koreans don’t need to worry because there is a supply of Celltrion treatments to spare,” he said. At a time when a third wave of COVID-19 has sparked intense interest in treatment and vaccine development, the biopharmaceutical company Celltrion stands at the very forefront of South Korean companies involved in COVID-19 treatment development.

“Once the Phase 2 clinical trials finish next week [the week beginning on Nov. 23] for the COVID-19 antibody treatment, it will take a little over a month before the final data comes out,” Seo explained, adding that the company would “apply for emergency use approval with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety as soon as the results come.” This means that the emergency use approval application may come as early as Dec. 21.

He also said the “efficacy and safety of the treatment have been shown to be outstanding in Phase 2 clinical trials currently taking place in Romania.”

“We can have it on the market as soon as MFDS approval comes, which may be possible early next year,” he added. Celltrion has already begun production of 100,000 doses of the treatment on the assumption that MFDS approval will be forthcoming.

Seo further said that the incoming Joseph Biden administration in the US “may need South Korea’s help due to the US’ shortage of treatments for its people.”

“During the COVID-19 era, treatments will be a great asset in terms of national security, and they may also play an important role in improving inter-Korean relations and South Korea-US relations going forward,” he predicted.

Celltrion is considered a leading bioindustry business in South Korea. The Moon Jae-in administration has named bioindustry as one of three major future growth industries in the Fourth Industrial Revolution era.

By Kwack Jung-soo, editorial writer

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