Dongkook Pharmaceutical to test Teicoplanin antibiotic as COVID-19 treatment

By Lim Chang-won Posted : March 18, 2021, 14:50 Updated : March 18, 2021, 14:50

[Courtesy of Dongkook Pharmaceutical]

SEOUL -- A South Korean pharmaceutical company will apply for state approval to carry out clinical trials and prove that Teicoplanin is effective in treating COVID-19 patients. Researchers believe the antibiotic used for the treatment of pneumonia can be administered with existing drugs to enhance the effect of treatment.

Teicoplanin is an antibiotic used in the prophylaxis and treatment of serious infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. It is a semisynthetic glycopeptide antibiotic with a spectrum of activity similar to vancomycin.

Dongkook Pharmaceutical said in a statement on March 18 that Teicoplanin showed its ability to suppress the growth of COVID-19 viruses in cell experiments. For clinical trials, the company will submit an application for approval in April to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The company said Teicoplaninit can prevent the worsening of pneumonia symptoms caused by secondary infections as it is already used as a treatment for pneumonia.
Lim Chang-won

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