This year’s World Knowledge Forum will present a direct solution to the COVID-19 pandemic as business leaders in the biopharmaceutical industry and heads of international bodies gather together to discuss fundamental approaches to the crisis, including the development of treatments and vaccines against the virus.

From the Korean business circle, Celltrion Group Chairman Seo Jeong-jin, who is going all out to develop a COVID-19 cure, will participate in the forum. Celltrion recently started a clinical trial of a candidate antibody to treat COVID-19 patients in Korea and in the U.K.

The company plans to start commercial production of the regimen from September ahead of marketing approval. Seo will present development process and timetable on commercialization of the drug.

International Vaccine Institute (IVI) Director General Dr. Jerome Kim and Gavi Chief Executive Officer Dr. Seth Berkley will join the World Knowledge Forum as they represent the world’s efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic by developing and distributing an effective vaccine.

Seoul-based IVI, the world`s only international organization devoted exclusively to developing and introducing vaccines for the world’s poorest people, is leading international solidarity for vaccine development. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, a non-governmental international organization created in 2000 to improve access to vaccines for children living in the world’s poorest countries, is also planning for distribution of future COVID-19 vaccines.

Both organizations are front runners in global efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, as mentioned in a recent letter sent from Microsoft founder Bill Gates to President Moon Jae-in.

Another person under the spotlight is Dr. Meng Xiang-Jin, a professor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, who has studied a COVID-19 vaccine. He is a renowned authority in the field of infectious disease viruses from animals.

By Yoon Won-sup and Minu Kim

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