South Korea’s Celltrion Inc. has embarked on global launch of coronavirus antibody treatment starting with Pakistan, according to the company’s affiliate on Monday.

Celltrion Healthcare responsible for Celltrion`s overseas distribution said it has signed a contract with a Pakistan state-run company to export 100,000 vials of Rekirona, which is enough to treat about 30,000 people.

Celltrion Healthcare said it will dispatch medical workers to Pakistan to train local healthcare professionals who will administer Rekirona.

Pakistan reports about 4,000 people contract the infection every day, with the total caseload passing 850,000 nationwide. The Pakistan government already declared a complete ban on unnecessary movement of people and gathering of any kind at any place during a 10-day lockdown from May 8.

Rekirona, a monoclonal antibody with activity against Covid-19, received conditional approval from South Korean health authorities in February, becoming the first locally made Covid-19 cure. It has so far been administered to some 2,700 patients in Korea.

Celltrion completed global phase 3 clinical trials of Rekirona in 13 countries and data analysis is underway.

A company official said talks are also underway to export the antibody cure to other countries in Europe and South America, as well as India.

By Pulse

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