S. Korea`s drug watchdog OKs clinical tests of flu vaccine

SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's drug safety watchdog said Thursday that
it has given a local pharmaceutical maker the green light to conduct clinical
tests on a flu vaccine amid intensifying efforts to stem the spread of Influenza
A.
Clinical tests of "GC1115," a vaccine being developed by Green Cross Corp., will
start in the second week of next month and will last for as long as eight weeks,
according to the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA).
A total of 722 adults and children will participate in the tests at eight local
hospitals, it added. Tests on animals will be carried out a week before in order
to increase the level of safety.
The move comes as countries across the world are intensifying efforts to secure
preventive drugs against the H1N1 virus, which has claimed around 1,500 lives
since it was first reported in late April.
South Korea, regarded as relatively safe from the disease, reported two deaths
from the new flu over the weekend, causing health authorities to step up efforts
to increase supplies of antiviral drugs and vaccines ahead of a possible spike in
the rate of infections.
Earlier, the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said that it will
expand its stockpile of antiviral drugs and increase its budget for more
preventive flu vaccine. It plans to secure enough vaccine to inoculate around 27
percent of the country's 49-million population, aiming to complete vaccinations
by the end of February next year.
The KFDA expects that vaccinations could start in mid-November "if the clinical
test is finalized without major problems."
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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