Hyundai Bioscience received an invitation to present its experimental antiviral drug at a federal health meeting, the Korean company announced, as U.S. authorities pivot away from mRNA vaccine development.
The South Korean biotech was invited to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority’s Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle meeting held August 26-27 in Arlington, Virginia. The invitation comes after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the cancellation of 22 mRNA vaccine projects worth approximately $500 million on August 5.
Hyundai Bioscience markets its drug Zefty as a broad-spectrum antiviral capable of treating multiple respiratory infections. The treatment is based on niclosamide, a compound previously known for antiviral properties but hindered by poor absorption. The company says its proprietary drug delivery technology has overcome these limitations.
Kennedy’s decision to wind down mRNA vaccine development cited data showing the vaccines “fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu”. The move has drawn criticism from public health experts who warn it could undermine pandemic preparedness.
The timing of Hyundai Bioscience’s invitation appears strategic. While the company has conducted Phase 2 clinical trials for COVID-19 treatment, its Phase 3 trial application was rejected by Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in April. The Korean regulator cited disagreements over trial design as COVID-19 emergency standards tightened.
Hyundai Bioscience is currently pursuing trials for long COVID treatment in collaboration with UC San Diego and dengue fever treatment with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative. The company has also partnered with Vietnam’s National Hospital of Tropical Diseases for broader antiviral studies.
The Korean company, listed on KOSDAQ with the symbol 048410, has a market capitalization of approximately 500 billion won ($375 million). Founded in 2000, it specializes in drug repurposing using what it calls organic-inorganic hybrid technologies.
While Hyundai Bioscience describes Zefty as the “world’s first general-purpose antiviral drug,” the treatment remains experimental with limited published clinical data from major peer-reviewed journals. The company’s promotional materials frequently compare its potential impact to penicillin’s effect on bacterial infections.
The federal government’s shift away from mRNA technology creates opportunities for alternative approaches, though regulatory approval pathways remain unchanged. The RRPV program, managed by BARDA, focuses on medical countermeasures for pandemic response and emerging biological threats.
