Daewoong Pharmaceutical signed an agreement with Institut Pasteur Korea (IPK) and Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences (KIRAMS) for overseas clinical trials to develop Foistar (ingredient: camostat mesilate) as Covid-19 therapy.

Under the agreement, Daewoong will carry out all matters related to approval, such as supplying necessary drugs, supporting permits for overseas clinical trials, and applying for emergency use approval.

From left, KIRAMS Research Director Kim Dong-ho, Daewoong Pharmaceutical CEO Jeon Seung-ho, and IPK Director Ryu Wang-sik signed a joint research agreement to develop Covid-19 therapy, at Daewoong’s headquarter office on Wednesday.

IPK is responsible for the smooth progress of joint research and development of a network for overseas researchers. KIRAMS will also co-develop clinical protocols with foreign researchers and cooperate to ensure the trials go successfully.

Camostat, the main ingredient of the Foistar tab, recently drew attention as the German Primate Center Leibniz Institute for Primate Research published therapeutic effects in Covid-19 on the journal Cell.

According to the study, camostat blocks the new coronavirus from infiltrating cells by inhibiting protease (TMPRSS2) activity necessary for the entering process.

IPK also assessed camostat’s inhibiting effect on Covid-19 in human lung cells and found that it showed superior antiviral efficacy than Remdesivir used in the control group.

“We expect to speed up the development Foistar as a global Covid-19 treatment based on collaboration with IPK and KIRAMS,” Daewoong Pharmaceutical CEO Jeon Seung-ho said. “Daewoong will quickly develop Foistar and Niclosamide, which is being developed as a Covid-19 therapy, and focus on providing various treatment options to all Covid-19 patients.”

IPK CEO Ryu Wang-sik said, “I hope Camostat’s antiviral effect on Covid-19 can be quickly verified in clinical trials via cooperation with Daewoong Pharmaceutical and KIRAMS and contribute to treating mild patients and ending the Covid-19 outbreaks.”

Daewoong Pharmaceutical won approval for a phase 2 clinical trial from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on July 6 to develop Foistar, a treatment for reflux esophagitis after gastrectomy and receiving surgery for chronic pancreatitis, as a Covid-19 therapy.

Copyright © KBR Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution prohibited