GC Wellbeing, in collaboration with the research team of the Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, has confirmed that Laennec, its human placenta hydrolyzate injection, has an antiviral effect against the Covid-19 virus.

The human placenta hydrolysate, which is the primary formulation for Laennec, is a substance extracted from the human placenta and has antioxidant and inflammatory cytokine expression inhibitory effects. Laennec is Korea’s only human placenta hydrolysate-derived product approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

The company used a cell and animal study to confirm the antiviral effect of the treatment.

When the researchers infected the Covid-19 virus in Vero cells, which are African green monkey kidney cells, the team confirmed the antiviral effect in two experimental groups treated with either Laennec stock solution or 50 percent concentration.

In the animal experiment, the team used a ferret model as it has the most similar respiratory structure to the human body. As a result of the study, the team observed a fever reduction effect from the fourth day of infection in the experimental group after intravenously administering 2ml of the treatment four times every two days. Also, from the sixth day of infection, the team saw a significant reduction in the amount of virus in the ferret nasal wash.

“Laennec has anti-inflammatory action, pain suppression, and immune-enhancing effects on inflammatory damage of various cells that appear during viral infection,” GC Wellbeing Director Han Hye-jeong said. “If we confirm the antiviral action of the treatment in the body, the company expects multiple effects through the use of the treatment.”