정총리 "코로나19 치료제.백신 개발에 모든 지원 다할 것"<br /><br />The South Korean government has pledged to spare no efforts to support for the country's pharmaceutical companies so they can develop effective treatments and vaccines against COVID-19.<br />Kim Hyo-sun reports.<br />South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Thursday sat down with medical and pharmaceutical experts to discuss policy directions for developing and securing therapeutics and vaccines against COVID-19.<br />The 15th round of such talks was attended by representatives of the country's vaccine developers Celltrion, SK Bioscience and Genexine.<br />Chung vowed the government's full support for research and development.<br />"The government will fully support vaccine development and securing vaccines from overseas."<br />The pharmaceutical companies pledged to exert full efforts to enable swift development.<br />Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-jin said the company aims to have its antibody-based treatment in full development within the first half of next year at the latest,... and asked for government's support to enable swift clinical trials.<br />SK Bioscience chief Ahn Jae-yong also said his company will roll out a vaccine as soon as possible.<br />On Thursday, health officials announced new progress regarding the country's plasma therapy.<br />" As of August 20th, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has approved GC Pharma's clinical trial for plasma therapy, and it will be tested on COVID-19 patients at six hospitals."<br />So far, clinical trials for 14 COVID-19 treatments and two vaccines are under way in South Korea.<br />Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.<br />
