The US government is investing $5 billion (about 6.635 trillion won) to accelerate the development of new Corona 19 vaccines and treatments. There are voices that Korea should also prepare for the next pandemic.
According to the Korea Bio Association Bioeconomic Research Center issue briefing on the 12th, on the 10th, a spokesperson for the US Department of Health and Welfare (HHS) and a Biden administration official said, “As part of our efforts to accelerate the development of new Corona 19 vaccines and treatments, more than $5 billion will invest,” he said.
Dubbed “Project NextGen,” the U.S. government’s investment is designed to combat viruses that could pose a future public health crisis, including the COVID-19 virus.
This project, which will invest at least 5 billion dollars, will be carried out in cooperation with the private sector and at the pan-governmental level under the leadership of the US Department of Health and Human Services. In the development of new vaccines and treatments, it plans to support all stages from laboratory research to clinical trials and distribution.
In particular, this investment is expected to focus on long-lasting antibodies and vaccines that respond to COVID-19 mutations. It aims to significantly reduce infection and transmission rates by accelerating the development of vaccines that are administered through the nose to create mucosal immunity.
Oh Ki-hwan, head of the Bio Economics Research Center at the Korea Bio Association, said, “The United States is showing a move to significantly promote R&D in preparation for additional pandemics even after the end of COVID-19.”
“As experts predict that the next pandemic will come within several years, we must do what needs to be institutionally supplemented by referring to the experiences we have learned in the process of responding to Corona 19, assuming that there will be a next pandemic,” he said. “Next-generation diagnostic kits, vaccines, We will need to prepare mid- to long-term plans at the government level to develop treatments and take measures to attract private investment,” he added.
Source: Donga
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