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March 10, 2010
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| Korean biotechnology firm Celltrion announced yesterday that it has developed antibody therapy for numerous flu viruses. Celltrion said during a news conference in Seoul that its researchers have succeeded in finding an antibody for treating flu viruses like A(H1N1), previously called “swine flu,” as well as the avian influenza that spread across the region in the past. The new treatments are based on antibodies found in the bodily fluids of humans. This differs from existing antiviral drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza, which are manufactured through chemical synthesis. Scientists say it’s difficult to find an antibody therapy for flu viruses, which tend to mutate frequently. But Celltrion focused on looking for a super antibody that responds to the surface of flu viruses, which the company said rarely mutate. “Every year some 800 million people get infected with the flu and 8 million are hospitalized,” said Seo Jung-jin, the CEO of the company. “So we believe the market for our treatment is at least hundreds of billions of won.” The company will soon conduct clinical trials, with plans to introduce the medicine for distribution next year. By Shim Jae-woo [hkim@joongang.co.kr] |
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