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Antibodies drug suggested against N. Korean anthrax threat
  • By Nam Doo-hyun
  • Published 2018.01.05 12:03
  • Updated 2018.01.05 17:17
  • comments 0

Amid growing concerns over biological terrorism with North Korea’s reported anthrax tests, a South Korean biotech venture has unveiled, only to the authorities, the results of its study on an anthrax antibodies therapy treating anthrax infection.

Anthrax infection is caused by Bacillus anthracis, a pathogenic organism that is fatal to humans and animals. Currently, anthrax infection treatments are antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, and penicillin. However, such antibiotics are not effective on toxins secreted during the proliferation of the anthrax virus.

Late last year, Japanese media said North Korea began tests to load anthrax onto intercontinental ballistic missiles, raising fear of biological terrorism by Pyongyang.

Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

It is against this backdrop Y-Biologics, the South Korean biotech firm, submitted the results of its research -- “human antibody optimization study for anthrax therapy” – to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The company conducted the study at the commission of KCDC, from Feb. 24 to Dec. 23 last year.

The study aims to discover human antibodies that can treat anthrax toxins, in preparation for biological terrorism and natural incidence. The agency reportedly said the study achieved its goal and that the firm will provide a useful technology for the production of antibodies.

However, the KCDC did not disclose the results, due to concerns over any damage to the development of antibodies.

The KCDC has also been conducting a study on antibodies for pest control since 2013, along with the research on anthrax treatments. Pest, an acute infectious disease caused by a bacterial infection, can also be used as a biological weapon by North Korea.

The government agency plans to develop antibodies drug candidates that can treat anthrax and pest infections, regardless of the resistance to antibiotics, and build related infrastructure, to brace for North Korea’s provocations and biological terrorism.

The KCDC received the results of a study called “human antibody candidate production for pest treatment,” also conducted by Y-Biologics from July 18, 2016, to May 17, 2017.

“Despite growing risks that North Korea may use bacteria or viruses as a biological weapon, the South Korean government’s reserved treatments (antibiotics) against biological attacks are available for only 70,000 people,” said the study report by Y-Biologics’ research team, led by chief researcher Park Jae-eun.

It is urgent to develop antibodies therapies to prepare against a North Korea’s attack, it said.

hwz@docdocdoc.co.kr

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