This photo, taken on Aug. 5, 2020, shows an official at the state-run Agency for Defense Development explains the agency’s newly-developed COVID-19 siRNA gene therapy treatment at ADD’s defense systems test center in the western coastal city of Taean. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 6 (Korea Bizwire) — A state-run research institute with a specialty in weapons development is now developing a cure for COVID-19.
South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD) announced on Wednesday that it confirmed the effectiveness of its newly-developed COVID-19 siRNA gene therapy treatment after conducting animal tests.
The new treatment is designed on the basis of COVID-19’s genetic information.
COVID-19 treatments can typically be classified into plasma treatment and genetic treatment. The small interfering RNA (siRNA) treatment produced by the ADD was developed using the genetic information of COVID-19 patients.
The new treatment blocks the coronavirus from entering and amplifying itself in human cells, preventing the virus from spreading.
The ADD noted that genetic treatment can offer a swift response to novel viruses.
After designing about 1,000 candidate materials for the treatment of COVID-19, the ADD confirmed that six candidates showed effectiveness in curing COVID-19. Among them, the ADD carried out animal testing for the best one.
The test showed that the lungs of rats which were infected with the coronavirus were cured after being injected with siRNA.
On the basis of the results it gained from the animal test, the ADD plans to implement safety assessment and clinical tests using a drug delivery system in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies in and outside Korea.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
