Chinese cancer drugs developer Innovent joins a crowded field in search of coronavirus cure
- Innovent Biologics is working on an antibody drug even as others are developing vaccines because the coronavirus mutates rapidly, says chairman Michael Yu Dechao
- Innovent posts annual loss of 1.72 billion yuan (US$242.2 million), while sales of its cancer therapy drug sintilimab jumps to over 1 billion yuan
Innovent Biologics, the first company whose immunology-based PD-1 anti-cancer drug is covered by China’s national health insurance scheme, has joined the race to find a cure for the coronavirus epidemic sweeping the globe, according to its chairman.
The company, based in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, is working to identify antibodies that could potentially “neutralise” the deadly virus, by studying antibodies drawn from people who have recovered from the virus that causes the Covid-19 respiratory disease.
“It will probably take more than one year to find a promising drug candidate and to prepare for the first human clinical trial,” said Michael Yu Dechao in an interview, adding he is not concerned that a vaccine could be developed by then.
“A Covid-19 vaccine, like that for flu, will not work for everyone all the time, because the virus – currently in its sixth generation of existence – can mutate,” he said.
“We still need a long-term cure, which will take a number of years, and we must go through all the steps.”
