INCHEON, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Celltrion Group announced today that the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has approved the company?s Investigational New Drug (IND) application for a Phase I clinical trial of CT-P59, a COVID-19 antiviral antibody treatment candidate. Celltrion has initiated enrolment of patients with mild symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the clinical trial is set to evaluate the safety, tolerability, efficacy, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of CT-P59. Celltrion anticipates global pivotal study results from the Phase II and III trials in patients with mild symptoms, the Phase III trial in patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19, and the prevention clinical trial, by the end of the year. Celltrion plans to enrol people that are in close contact with COVID-19 patients and those with no symptoms as part of a prevention clinical trial to evaluate whether CT-P59 can elicit a neutralising antibody response to prevent the virus from infecting human cells. ?We have initiated an in-human global Phase I clinical trial of CT-P59 in mild COVID-19 patients and we plan to conduct further global Phase II and III trials in this patient group. In addition, Celltrion plans to combine Phase II and III trials in patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 with the prevention clinical trials.? said Dr. Sang Joon Lee, Senior Executive Vice President of Celltrion. ?We are extremely encouraged by the consistent progress we are making in preparation for our CT-P59 clinical trials in various settings, and we remain on track to reach our upcoming milestones.? In July, Celltrion initiated a Phase I trial of CT-P59 in the UK following the approval of the clinical trial authorisation (CTA) application from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Celltrion has also completed an infusion and initial safety assessment for the Phase I study in healthy volunteers in Korea and the study is set for completion by Q3 this year as originally planned. -?ENDS - Notes to Editors: About Celltrion Healthcare Celltrion Healthcare is committed to delivering innovative and affordable medications to promote patients? access to advanced therapies. Its products are manufactured at state-of-the-art mammalian cell culture facilities, designed and built to comply with the US FDA cGMP and the EU GMP guidelines. Celltrion Healthcare endeavours to offer high-quality cost-effective solutions through an extensive global network that spans more than 110 different countries. For more information please visit:?https://www.celltrionhealthcare.com/en-us About COVID-19^1,2 Coronaviruses (CoV) are a family of viruses that lead to illnesses from the common cold to severe diseases. Novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for the disease COVID-19, this new strain, discovered in 2019, is behind the ongoing pandemic outbreak. The most common signs of COVID-19 include fever, dry cough and tiredness; however, people may also experience other symptoms including shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Most people infected with the virus will exhibit mild to moderate symptoms however older people, and those with existing underlying conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes are more likely to develop a more severe form of COVID-19. Please find up to date information about the outbreak via the World Health Organization at?https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1 FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT Certain information set forth in this press release contains statements related to our future business and financial performance and future events or developments involving Celltrion/Celltrion Healthcare that may constitute forward-looking statements, under pertinent securities laws. These statements may be identified by words such as ?prepares?, ?hopes to?, ?upcoming?, ?plans to?, ?aims to?, ?to be launched?, ?is preparing, ?once gained?, ?could?, ?with the aim of?, ?may?, ?once identified?, ?will?, ?working towards?, ?is due?, ?become available?, ?has potential to?, the negative of these words or such other variations thereon or comparable terminology. In addition, our representatives may make oral forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on the current expectations and certain assumptions of Celltrion/Celltrion Healthcare's management, of which many are beyond its control. Forward-looking statements are provided to allow potential investors the opportunity to understand management?s beliefs and opinions in respect of the future so that they may use such beliefs and opinions as one factor in evaluating an investment. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although forward-looking statements contained in this presentation are based upon what management of Celltrion/Celltrion Healthcare believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Celltrion/Celltrion Healthcare undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management?s estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. References ¹?Coronavirus.?World Health Organization. Available at:?https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1?Last accessed: August 2020 ²?Coronaviruses.?National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Available at:?https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/coronaviruses?Last accessed: August 2020