(Seoul = International News) Reporter Kim Seo-jung = A debate was held at the National Assembly to predict the future of COVID-19 vaccine independence.
In addition, Democratic Party Rep. Shin Hyun-young (National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee) held a discussion meeting on the 1st video conference room of the National Assembly House of Representatives on the 2nd, “Conversation with the Future, the Road to the Corona Clean Country: Domestic Vaccine Roadmap, Corona 19 Vaccine Sovereignty” Gap, the National Assembly Planning and Finance Committee) co-hosted.
At the debate held on this day, five domestic vaccine development companies (SK Bioscience, Cellid, Genexin, Ubiologics, Jinwon Life Science) and Mook Hyunsang, head of the Ministry of New Drug Development Project, gathered together to develop Corona 19 vaccines for each company. They announced the current status and countermeasures against mutant viruses, and exchanged opinions on difficulties they faced in the development process.
“SK Bioscience’s Strategic Planning Officer Sang-mok Sang-mok, who was the first speaker of the debate, said, “SK’s proprietary candidates are in phase 1 clinical trials, and candidates being developed with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are in phases 1 and 2 clinical trials.” We plan to confirm the interim results about the quarter and proceed with large-scale phase 3 clinical trials.”
CEO Chang-yul Kang of Celid said, “We are developing through a platform that uses adenovirus and are conducting phase 1 and 2 clinical trials at the same time,” and expects to see both the short-term prevention effect of antibodies and the long-term prevention effect of T cells. Indicated.
“We plan to establish overseas clinical cooperation based on the results of phase 1 and 2,” said President Woo Jeong-won of Genexine, who emphasized the safety of its products and the ability to induce immune responses.
Young-ok Paik, CEO of UBiologics, who presented online, said that the vaccine under development has the advantage of inducing high neutralizing antibodies. “We are currently preparing for phase 1 clinical trials, and our goal is to enter phase 3 clinical trials in the second half of this year.” .
Likewise, the head of Jinwon Life Science’s research institute, Jeong Moon-seop, who participated online emphasized that the vaccine under development did not contain any side effects or allergens. “Applying for emergency use approval in April of next year and shipping the vaccine in May We are aiming.”
On the other hand, Mok Hyeon-sang, head of the Ministry of New Drug Development, who attended the debate, emphasized that all five companies announced today are receiving R&D funding from the Corona 19 project group, and answered the difficulties in development raised by the five developers. Sun drew attention.
Director Mook explained about △preparing for the rapid phase 3 clinical trials, △Ajou’s case of unification of IRB (Institutional Bioethics Committee) in each hospital, and △funding support for vaccine development projects. In particular, it said that it is currently supporting less than 10 billion won a year for domestic vaccine development, and plans to support vaccine clinical trials with about 68 billion won in 2021. It also revealed the basic principle of intensive support to vaccine candidates with potential for success in the future.
Rep. Lee Kwang-jae, who co-hosted the debate, emphasized, “Many companies are requesting not only to deregulate, but to clarify international standards so that they can go step by step accurately.” For example, it was suggested that Korea and Singapore need to create funds that support clinical trials internationally and conduct large-scale clinical trials.
Rep. Shin Hyun-young, who was in charge of the chairmanship, emphasized, “In the first year of corona vaccination in 2021, securing vaccination sovereignty is very important.” “The five leading domestic developers gather to share the situation and solve the difficulties in the development process, It is meaningful to communicate with the National Assembly.” In addition, “It is very important to share strategies in order to increase the effectiveness of the vaccine under development due to variables such as mutant viruses,” he said. “This discussion will be able to resolve various difficulties in the development process toward the sovereignty of the COVID-19 vaccine through communication between the National Assembly and the government It will be an opportunity to have it.”
You can watch this debate again through the YouTube channel “Shin Hyun-young TV”.