Hyundai Bioscience Develops Multi-treatment for Mosquito-borne Viral Infections

Hyundai Bioscience, a South Korean biotechnology firm led by CEO Oh Sang-gi, recently announced the successful development of a new 'multi-treatment drug' designed to combat mosquito-borne viral infections. This drug leverages niclosamide as its primary active ingredient, showcasing the company's innovative approach to addressing diseases like dengue fever, Zika, Chikungunya, and Yellow Fever.

The central achievement of Hyundai Bioscience's new drug is its ability to maintain a blood concentration of niclosamide sufficient to inhibit viral proliferation by 50%. This breakthrough offers a promising solution for treating multiple mosquito-borne diseases simultaneously. Niclosamide's enhanced bioavailability, a result of the company's patented technology, enables it to effectively target Zika, Chikungunya, and Yellow Fever viruses in addition to the four serotypes of the dengue virus.

Effective early treatment is critical for managing dengue fever, as the viral load must be controlled before it escalates significantly. The new drug's broad-spectrum efficacy against several mosquito-borne viruses with similar symptoms makes it particularly valuable for early administration. This multi-treatment capability is a significant advancement given the current lack of specific treatments for dengue fever and the varying IC50 values among the different dengue serotypes and other related viruses.

Formulating the antiviral drug into tablet form marks another crucial step in making it suitable for mass production, transportation, and storage. This facilitates broader distribution and accessibility, especially in regions heavily affected by these viral infections.

Hyundai Bioscience has chosen Brazil, a country severely impacted by dengue fever, as the site for its upcoming dengue fever basket clinical trial. This trial will be managed by Hyundai Bioscience USA, which is in the process of selecting a Contract Research Organization (CRO) to oversee the trial proceedings. The basket clinical trial approach represents a departure from traditional methods by allowing for the early administration of the multi-treatment antiviral to patients infected with various mosquito-borne viruses. The trial's efficacy will be evaluated based on the clinical outcomes in dengue virus-confirmed patients.

Kim Kyung-il, CEO of Hyundai Bioscience USA, emphasized the significance of this development. He highlighted the company's commitment to conducting the basket clinical trial in Brazil promptly and efficiently. By leveraging expedited regulatory processes, Hyundai Bioscience aims to offer this multi-treatment drug at an affordable price, providing a much-needed solution to patients suffering from dengue fever and other mosquito-borne viral infections worldwide.

Founded in 2000, Hyundai Bioscience has established itself as a front-runner in the biotechnology sector by developing new drugs through its proprietary drug delivery system technologies. These technologies ensure the safe and efficient delivery of active ingredients to targeted areas within the human body. The company focuses on repurposing existing drugs or expanding their indications, utilizing its unique organic-inorganic hybrid technologies. Hyundai Bioscience is publicly traded on the KOSDAQ stock exchange in South Korea under the symbol 048410.