The KOEDC, real-time check on 2019-nCoV treatment

The KCDC and the MFDS’ support are being strengthened to supply medicines in the country.

The level of protection was also increased for the safety management of patients and guardians

The KOEDC (President Young-mi Yoon) said it is checking the overseas status of alternative treatment candidates such as antiviral agents in real time in order to cope with a 2019-nCoV infection known to have no treatment.

 

As the agency is in charge of domestic supply and demand of rare medicines worldwide, it is intended to support the rapid introduction of candidates in Korea when a situation worsens or a drug that can suppress infection is identified.

 

An official of the KOEDC on the 2nd said, "We immediately reported our willingness to request and support the relevant medicine checklists from the KCDC and the MFDS immediately after the Lunar New Year holidays, when the 2019-nCoV crisis began to spread".

 

Currently, the KCDC and the MFDS have delivered lists of antibiotics and antivirals to the KOEDC that may be effective in preventing 2019-nCoV proliferation.

 

With about 10 items, the drug name was decided to be closed because the drug's efficacy was not clearly proven.

 

The world is focusing on the prevention of the spread of 2019-nCoV, and at the same time working on the discovery of therapeutics.

 

Hubei Province, Hubei Province, China, which is known as the source of new virus because there is no suitable treatment, is confirming the treatment effect of the confirmed patients by replacing antiviral drugs such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment.

 

In fact, US pharmaceutical companies have begun sending antivirals to China at the request of Chinese health authorities.

 

AbbVie, Johnson & Johnson and Gilead are the most representative.

 

AbbVie decided to donate about $2 million worth of Kaletra, the first approved HIV treatment 20 years ago, to China.

 

Johnson & Johnson has also decided to ship China's HIV drug, Prezcobix, which combines two antiviral agents.

 

Gilead is discussing with U.S.

 

and Chinese researchers a trial of using Remdesivir, a drug for the treatment of Ebola, in 2019-nCoV confirmors.

 

This drug is not yet available in the United States.

 

First, the center is keeping an eye on the global 2019-nCoV trend, including the medicines, and is checking volume and distribution of related drugs overseas continuously.

 

In addition, a visitor list was prepared for the safety of patients and guardians who visited the center directly to receive orphan drugs, and the center has also strengthened measures to identify visitor prior symptoms such as fever and cough.

 

In particular, the center is expected to have a significant increase in the number of visitors to receive medicines as ‘delivery of orphan drugs consignment delivery service with keeping a fixed temperature during the shipping', which has been promoted over the past year, ends this month.

 

Therefore, the center plans to strengthen further inspection.

 

The center expects that the average daily number of orphan drug recipients will increase to 40 to 60 people daily, which has increased by 4 to 6 times for the time being due to the completion of the pilot project.

 

An official of the center said, "The reason for the existence of the center is the domestic supply of rare drugs overseas.

 

We informed the KCDC and the MFDS about necessary data support plans, including candidate materials, and have a consultation system among the working groups, when they candidate data that can be used as a 2019-nCoV treatment material, we grasp the volume and distribution of overseas pharmaceuticals”.

 

The official said, “The level of protection was also increased for the safety management of patients and guardians who visited the center directly.

 

Since relatively severe patients are visiting, it is necessary to reinforce the countermeasures of patients with low immunity, even if they are not 2019-nCoV infected, and we are strengthening the preventive measures of visitors such as coughing and adding & considering adding a waiting room for suspect visitors”.