GC Pharma said that it would provide GC5131A, the world's first plasma therapy for COVID-19, to Korean patients free of charge.

The plasma treatment is a hyperimmune globulin made by dividing up only immune proteins with various antibodies taken from the plasma of recovered COVID-19 patients. GC5131A differs from immune globulin, which consists of general immune antibodies, as the former contains more antibodies specific for COVID-19.

"GC Pharma has become the first pharmaceutical company that has decided to supply a Covid-19 treatment free of charge," the company said. "While there have been announcements from other pharmaceutical companies that mentioned giving up profits for their Covid-19 treatment candidate, GC Pharma's decision is noteworthy as it means that the company will endure all the financial burdens."

Except for government support funds, the company will cover all costs from development to commercialization and will set no prerequisites, it added.

“We believe it is right that medicines used for the treatment of the infectious diseases are used only for stabilizing public health,” CEO Huh Eun-chul said. “The blood plasma system platform, made by concerted efforts of the Korean people who overcame Covid-19, is worth more than money.”