REYON Pharmaceutical (representative directors Sunok Jeong and Yonghwan Yoo) has confirmed the virus proliferation inhibitory effects of its drug for treating COVID-19, which is being developed with GNP Bioscience (representative directors Seonghyeon Ho and Sujin Park) and KNOTUS (representative directors Inseong Jeong and Dohyeong Kim).

The REYON Pharmaceutical, GNP Bioscience, and KNOTUS joint research team revealed on the 16th, “We have confirmed the efficacy of inhibiting the proliferation of the virus without cytotoxic effects in a new candidate material for COVID-19 treatment that we secured in April.”

REYON Pharmaceutical is in the process of non-clinical trials with a joint research team to develop a therapeutic agent with new candidate materials. Among them, as a result of a recent antiviral efficacy analysis test, superior viral proliferation inhibitory efficacy was observed compared to COVID-19 single treatment group. In addition, it was confirmed that cytotoxicity was not observed in all test substance treatment groups.

In particular, the fact that cytotoxicity was not observed means that the inhibitory action of the substance itself was observed and not virus proliferation inhibitory action due to cytotoxicity, lowered concerns surrounding potential side effects is expected to be a very positive factor in the development of a therapeutic agent in the future.

An official at REYON Pharmaceutical said in a statement, “Based on such efficacy and safety having been confirmed through the results of these experiments that there is no cytotoxicity coinciding with the inhibitory effect on the proliferation of SARS-CoV-2, we plan to complete the ongoing nonclinical development process and commence clinical trials as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, REYON Pharmaceutical is conducting research to develop COVID-19 and related viral infection treatments together with the joint research team after securing new candidates for COVID-19 treatment through its own synthesis.