What is the difference between Remdesivir & VSF

Approved Gilead 'Remdesivir' for commercial clinical trial

Immunemd’s VSF approved for therapeutic purposes

There are two investigational drugs approved by the MFDS for COVID-19 patients as of the 5th.

 

The first is the antiviral drug 'Remdesivir' of the US global pharmaceutical company Gilead Science, and the other is the antiviral candidate called 'VSF' of Korean bioventure Immunemd.

 

However, the reasons for authorizing the administration of the two candidates to the patient are somewhat different.

 

If Remdesivir is a commercial trial for commercial purposes, VSF is an emergency treatment.

 

'Remdesivir' is the first candidate for COVID-19 treatment for clinical trial

Gilead is the best pharmaceutical company to make nucleotide analogue antiviral agents.

 

So this Remdesivir is attracting more attention as a treatment for COVID-19.

Gilead is the best pharmaceutical company to make nucleotide analogue antiviral agents.

 

So this Remdesivir is attracting more attention as a treatment for COVID-19.

 

Remdesivir was approved by the MFDS on the Phase III trial of COVID- 19 patients.

 

The plan is to conduct 120 domestic and 75 severe patients at Seoul Medical Center, the NMC, and Kyungpook National University Hospital.

 

The trial is a global clinical trial (total 1,000 patients worldwide), the first COVID-19 clinical trial conducted by a pharmaceutical company.

 

The Remdesivir trial, which is conducted in 761 patients in Wuhan, China, is a clinical trial led by a researcher.

 

In addition, a recent clinical trial launched in the United States is a clinical trial led by the National Institutes of Health.

 

To be recognized as a formal treatment, Remdesivir must be validated in commercialized clinical trials.

 

Once the trial has been completed, it is difficult to be approved as a formal treatment in the first half of this year.

 

However, because COVID-19 occurred suddenly, it cannot be identified as a pandemic.

 

Even if it is not approved as a formal treatment, it is meaningful to be used only for patients who are currently occurring for therapeutic purposes.

 

Gilead Science Korea also said the trial is more humane for patient care opportunities than for immediate approval.

 

However, if clear efficacy data are available in this clinical trial, the license can be applied as a formal treatment.

 

Remdesivir is one of the nucleotide analogues that has had antiviral effects.

 

Nucleotide analogs act as nucleic acid analogs in the synthesis of viral DNA to inhibit the growth of the virus.

 

Gilead has a nucleotide-like blockbuster product that acts on antivirals, such as hepatitis B and HIV, including Viread and Stribild.

 

Immunemd’s VSF approved for treatment for one patient on a humane basis On the other hand, Immunemd’s VSF, which is approved for therapeutic purposes, cannot be applied as a formal treatment with this data, even if it is effective after patient administration.

 

This is because it is temporarily approved for therapeutic purposes and not for commercialized clinical trials.

 

The MFDS has made an exception for the purpose of granting treatment opportunities to patients who do not have other treatment and have life-threatening diseases.

 

The condition is to treat a patient with a serious life-threatening condition, such as terminal cancer or AIDS or to treat an emergency patient prescribed by the prime minister's order, such as life-threatening or no alternative treatment.

 

VSF mechanism of action (provided by Immunemd)

Immunemd’s VSF has been conducting Phase I clinical trials with antiviral drugs since 2018 at Seoul National University Hospital.

 

Then, was approved on February 21 for treatment of COVID-19 confirmed patient who had no treatment, The company plans to administer a total of four (Day1/Day3/Day7/Day14) doses, and officials from Seoul National University Hospital, the MFDS, and Immunemd are conducting joint monitoring of drug effects and side effects after dosing.

 

Immunemd added that it applied to the Food and Drug Administration on 4th last month to approve the use of a provider (Immunemd) for therapeutic purposes, which can be administered for up to 25 people, separately from those currently available only to individual patients.

 

VSF binds to cells infected with viruses and regulates DNA damaging agents and tumor necrosis factors, thereby preventing infected cells from proliferating or inhibiting inflammation.

 

Immunemd teamed up with Lonza, a British company, to develop a humanized version of VSF (hzVSF), which Lonza produces for clinical trials.