HYUNDAI BIOSCIENCE announced on the 4th that a research paper containing the results of clinical trials confirming the safety and therapeutic effect of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) treatment candidate 'CP-COV03 (Jepti)' was published in the international journal 'Nature Communications'.
The first author of the research paper is Professor Kim Jung-ho of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Yonsei University Severance Hospital, while the corresponding authors include Professor Choi Joon-yong from the same hospital and Distinguished Professor Choi Jin-ho from Dankook University's Department of Chemistry, who led the formulation development of CP-COV03.
CP-COV03 is an oral treatment (pill) that improves the bioavailability of niclosamide, which was used as an anthelmintic. It is being developed as a treatment for various viral respiratory diseases in addition to COVID-19.
The study released this time was conducted from May to November 2022, involving 300 mild to moderate COVID-19 patients, administering low doses, high doses, and placebos for five days and observing changes in symptoms and viral load over 14 days.
According to the company, the clinical trial results showed that the symptom improvement period for the low-dose group (900 mg per day) was shortened by more than four days compared to the placebo group, lasting nine days. Notably, in high-risk groups including those over 60 and patients with underlying conditions, there was an even more pronounced improvement, showing 7.5 days.
The amount of COVID-19 virus decreased 13.8 times faster within 16 hours of administration, showing a rapid suppression effect at about 56% compared to the placebo group. No severe adverse reactions occurred, and no harmful interactions between co-administered drugs were reported.
In contrast, another COVID treatment, Paxlovid, reduced the amount of COVID-19 virus by ten times compared to the placebo group on the fifth day post-administration, while Zocova significantly reduced the viral load on the fourth day.
The authors analyzed that the rapid suppression effect of Jepti on the COVID-19 virus not only alleviates acute symptoms but also contributes to less tissue damage and reduces the risk of sequelae.
HYUNDAI BIOSCIENCE stated that it plans to expand the indications of CP-COV03 to other viral diseases besides COVID-19, noting that late clinical trials for dengue fever patients are also proceeding without disruption.
Baek Byung-jun, head of bio strategy at HYUNDAI BIOSCIENCE, said, "We will provide new drug solutions to respond to public health crises through scientifically evidence-based drug development," and added, "We will do our best to commercialize innovative treatments in collaboration with global academic institutions, hospitals, and researchers to repay our shareholders and society."
References
Nature Communications (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62423-4