Daewoong Pharmaceutical said it would enter into an investigator-initiated phase 2 clinical trial of Foistar, a treatment candidate for Covid-19, with Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán.

Investigator-initiated trials are clinical studies initiated and managed by researchers not affiliated with pharmaceutical companies, such as individual investigators, institutions, collaborative study groups, or cooperative groups.

In the clinical trial, the researchers will divide 180 outpatients with mild or moderate Covid-19 into two groups -- Foistar group and placebo group – for 40 days, including an observation period, and compare and evaluate clinical symptom relief.

Daewoong also signed a joint research agreement with Institut Pasteur Korea and Korea Institute of Radiological Medical Sciences (KIRAMS) on Aug. 19 for smooth clinical trials for overseas researchers.

Under the accord, Daewoong will supply the drugs necessary for clinical trials and supports overseas clinical trial approval. At the same time, Institut Pasteur Korea will cooperate to establish and operate overseas clinical development networks, and KIRAMS, in developing clinical protocols.

“Beginning with this investigator-initiated study in Mexico, the company expects to accelerate the development of Foistar as a global Covid-19 treatment,” Daewoong CEO Jeon Seung-ho said.