LifeStyle

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  Genexine wins U.S. approval to test immunotherapeutic drug candidate for COVID-19 treatment SEOUL -- Genexine, a clinical-stage biotechnology company in South Korea, has received U.S. approval to go ahead with clinical trials of GX-I7, an immunotherapeutic drug candidate, to see if it is effective in the treatment of COVID-19. Genexine has said that GX-I7 (Hyleukin-7) showed good efficacy when used in combination with a variety of immunotherapeutic agents. The seriousness of COVID-19 is related to the decrease and depletio 2020-06-11
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  State researchers transfer candidate material for COVID-19 treatment to LegoChem SEOUL -- A state-funded virus research group transferred a candidate material for COVID-19 treatment to LegoChem Biosciences, a domestic biopharmaceutical company that will push for the development of a new drug because it is less toxic and more effective than remdesivir, an antiviral medication approved in South Korea. LegoChem signed a technology transfer agreement with the CEVI (new virus) Convergence Research Group involving eight government-funded research institu 2020-06-09
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  Daewoong reports progress in animal testing of tapeworm treatment medicine as COVID-19 medication SEOUL -- Daewoong Pharmaceutical, a major bioengineering company in South Korea, claimed to have achieved progress in the initial animal testing of niclosamide, a tapeworm treatment medicine which has been selected as a candidate for COVID-19 antibody treatment. Institut Pasteur Korea, an infectious disease-focused research institute, has embarked on a co-research mission with Daewoong Therapeuticits, a subsidiary of Daewoong Pharmaceutical, to te 2020-06-05
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  Seoul hospital to conduct clinical trial for Inovio's COVID-19 DNA vaccine candidate SEOUL -- The safety and efficacy of IN0-4800, a COVID-19 DNA vaccine candidate developed by Inovio Pharmaceuticals, an American biotechnology company, will be checked in clinical trials by a prominent state hospital in South Korea. Clinical trials will begin this month. The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) won approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, a public health watchdog, for Phase 1 and 2 trials in South Korea. Under a contract with the institu 2020-06-04
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  Researchers discover simple method to screen glioblastoma SEOUL -- Glioblastoma is the most aggressive form of cancer that originates within the central nervous system. It represents 15 percent of all primary brain tumors, but the cause is unclear, and there is no clear way to prevent it. Simple methods to monitor the presence or recurrence of GBM are important in treatment. Researchers from Seoul National University College of Medicine and Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, both in Seoul, said that th 2020-06-02
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  Celltrion achieves initial progress in animal testing of candidates for antibody treatment. SEOUL -- Celltrion, a bio firm involved in a project to develop the treatment of patients infected with a new coronavirus, claimed to have achieved progress in the initial animal testing of candidates for antibody treatment. Celltrion has embarked on the verification of selected candidates for antibody treatment to see if they can neutralize the coronavirus. The company has conducted animal tests on ferrets. Symptoms such as coughing have disappeared si 2020-06-01
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  Remdesvir to be introduced for treatment of COVID-19 in S. Korea SEOUL -- Remdesivir, an antiviral medication developed by Gilead Sciences to treat Ebola virus disease, will be introduced in South Korea as a specific treatment for COVID-19 following the positive assessment of clinical trials by experts involved in South Korea's national epidemic control center. Remdesivir has been authorized for emergency use in the United States and some other countries. It may shorten the time it takes to recover from infection. The Korea 2020-05-29
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  Researchers discover new strain capable of synthesizing expensive antibiotic A file picture shows an antibiotic pit in a seaside town in Taean. SEOUL -- A state research body in South Korea claimed to have discovered a new strain that can synthesize Chromomycin A3, an expensive antibiotic being used to develop cancer or various tumor treatments, raising the possibility of an import substitution effect. Chromomycin A3, extracted from microorganisms in the soil, is an anthraquinone antibiotic glycoside produced by the fermentation of a cer 2020-05-27
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  Indonesia's Kalbe partners with S. Korean company for joint vaccine research SEOUL -- PT Kalbe Farma, a pharmaceutical, healthcare and nutrition company in Indonesia, forged a partnership with Genexine, a South Korean company involved in the development of GX-19, a DNA vaccine material for COVID-19. Genexine, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, said that its cooperation with Kalbe would enable GX-19's clinical trials in Southeast Asia. The South Korean company has been involved in South Korea's state-commissioned research 2020-05-27
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  S. Korea reports suspected pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome cases SEOUL -- South Korea reported two suspected cases of the pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome, a day after health authorities launched a monitoring and investigation system for the rare disease linked to a novel coronavirus. The two tested negative for COVID-19 in the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method that amplifies specific DNA samples, Kwak Jin, an official from South Korea's epidemic control center, said on Tuesday. Cases of multi-syste 2020-05-26
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  Health agency suspends 31 diabetic drugs with metformin due to contamination SEOUL -- Due to contamination with a human carcinogen, 31 diabetic drugs with metformin in domestic circulation were suspended. South Korea's public health agency advised diabetic patients not to panic, saying that there was a very low risk of harm to the human body even if drugs in question were taken. N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a semi-volatile organic chemical that is highly toxic and is a suspected human carcinogen, was detected in excess of the manage 2020-05-26
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  National hospital in Busan to establish remote cooperative medical system in Indonesia SEOUL -- A national university hospital will establish a remote cooperative medical system in Indonesia, using Information and communications technology, that would enable South Korean doctors to remotely check the results of basic data and provides diagnosis and directions for treatment. Pusan National University Hospital said that it was selected for a state pilot project sponsored by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Kore 2020-05-20
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  Samsung Bioepis demonstrates efficacy of first biosimilar for eye disease treatment An image captured from the website of Samsung Bioepisute SEOUL -- Samsung Bioepis, a U.S. and South Korean biopharmaceutical joint venture company, promised to seek a license for the marketing of SB11, a biosimilar candidate referencing Lucentis (ranibizumab), in the United States and Europe saying its efficacy has been demonstrated through final-stage clinical trials. Ranibizumab, developed by Genentech and marketed by Novartis under the brand name Lu 2020-05-18
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  GC Pharma pledges unlimited free supply of immunoglobulin drug for plasma treatment SEOUL -- GC Pharma, a biotech company in South Korea, pledged the unlimited free supply of an immunoglobulin drug based on plasma containing antibodies that neutralize a novel coronavirus, calling for the understanding of shareholders. The company is ready to carry out clinical trials for test production. GC Pharma has been selected by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), a state health watchdog, as a preferred bidder for a research task to 2020-05-18
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  Bill Gates Foundation to finance research projects by S. Korean companies SEOUL -- Two South Korean companies will receive money from the Bill & Melinda Foundation, casually known as Bill Gates Foundation, for their research projects to develop a coronavirus vaccine or a prediction model on infectious diseases. SK Bioscience said it would receive $3.6 million from Bill Gates Foundation to find candidate materials for the COVID-19 vaccine. The company will coordinate with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations 2020-05-18
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  Nafamostat selected by researchers as 'most potent' COVID-19 drug candidate SEOUL -- Nafamostat mesylate, a drug used to treat acute pancreatitis, was selected by Institut Pasteur Korea, an infectious disease-focused research institute, as the "most potent" drug candidate in treating COVID-19 patients. Nafamostat, a synthetic serine protease inhibitor, is a short-acting anticoagulant, which also has some antiviral and anti-cancer properties. Researchers were upbeat as the drug can be readily repurposed for COVID19 following clini 2020-05-15
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  British biotech firm Iksuda to receive drug candidate materials from S. Korean partner LegoChem SEOUL -- Iksuda Therapeutics, a British biotech company that develops antibody-drug conjugates, will receive anti-cancer drug candidate materials from LegoChem Biosciences, a biopharmaceutical company in South Korea, for the development of blood cancer treatment. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) combine the targeting capabilities of monoclonal antibodies with the cancer-killing ability of cytotoxic drugs. LegoChem's proprietary platform enables 2020-05-14
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  French partner Sanofi decides to returns rights related to Hanmi's diabetes drug candidate An image captured from Hanmi Pharmaceutical's website SEOUL -- Hanmi Pharmaceutical, a major drugmaker in South Korea, suffered a setback in its push for the quick commercialization and distribution of a new diabetes drug candidate after Sanofi S.A., a French multinational pharmaceutical company, decided to terminate a 2015 deal without completing a final-stage clinical trial. Hanmi promised to find a new partner after completing consultations 2020-05-14
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  Antimalarial medicine Pyramax approved for coronavirus clinical trials SEOUL -- Pyramax, a fixed-dose combination medication for the treatment of malaria, has been approved for clinical trials in South Korea to compare and evaluate its efficacy and safety in treating patients infected with a new coronavirus. Pyramax, produced by Shin Poong Pharm, a South Korean pharmaceutical firm specializing in remedy drugs, is on the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines. The medicine contains the active substance 2020-05-13
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  [Coronavirus] GC Pharma selected for state project to develop plasma treatment SEOUL -- GC Pharma has been selected for a state project to develop an immunoglobulin drug based on plasma containing antibodies that neutralize a novel coronavirus. The biotech company waits for clinical trials after completing preparations for test production. GC Pharma said Monday that it has been selected by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), a state health watchdog, as a preferred bidder for a research task to develop plasma tr 2020-05-04