Korean Monoclonal Antibody Treatment for COVID-19 Gains Momentum

The European Medicines Agency human medicines committee announced on February 24, 2021, it had started a ‘rolling review’ of data on the monoclonal antibody regdanvimab (CT-P59) for the treatment of COVID-19, which South Korea-based Celltrion is developing.

The decision to start the rolling review is based on preliminary results from an ongoing study looking at the ability of the medicine to treat COVID-19. A monoclonal antibody is a type of protein that has been designed to attach to a specific structure (called an antigen).

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced that it had assessed on February 11, 2021. It independently confirmed that CT-P59 successfully neutralizes the SARS-CoV-2 variants first identified in the UK (B.1.1.7) in addition to the previously identified six variant genome mutations of SARS-CoV-2 (variants S·L·V·G·GH·GR).

The KDCA also added that cocktail therapy of CT-P59 with another monoclonal antibody candidate demonstrated neutralizing capability against the UK (B.1.1.7) and South African (B.1.351) variants.

Regdanvimab has been designed to attach to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. When it attaches to the spike protein, the ability of the virus to enter the body’s cells is reduced. This is expected to reduce the need for hospitalization in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.

The Korean pharmaceutical company Celltrion has pioneered numerous uncharted areas to stellar success, which it plans to follow up by continuing its growth as a global biopharmaceutical company with unique approaches to small-molecule pharmaceuticals.