Hyundai Bioscience Unveils Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Strategy as It Enters US Phase 2 Trials

Hyundai Bioscience has announced a major clinical milestone for Xafty™, its broad-spectrum antiviral drug.

The company officially declared its entry into Phase 2 clinical trials in the United States. The announcement was made at Biotech Showcase 2026, positioning Xafty as a potential multi-virus solution.

A High-Profile Endorsement from UCSD

Dr. Davey Smith, Professor of Medicine at UC San Diego and former ACTIV-2 Protocol Chair, endorsed Xafty publicly. He described the drug as “the weapon to end the virus war.”

Dr. Smith previously led major US government COVID-19 clinical trials.

The Problem: A U.S. “Tripledemic”

According to Dr. Smith, the US is facing a convergence of viral threats.

These include:

• Influenza
• RSV
• COVID-19 variants

There is currently no unified antiviral treatment addressing all three.

Xafty’s Clinical Strategy: Basket Trials

Hyundai Bioscience designed its US clinical program in collaboration with Dr. Smith.

The trials use a Basket Trial design, allowing one drug to be tested across multiple viral infections.

Dr. Smith called this approach “the only efficient way to solve the multi-viral crisis.”

“One Drug, Two Tracks” Explained

At the center of the roadmap is Hyundai’s “One Drug, Two Tracks” strategy.

The same drug, Xafty, will be developed in parallel for:

• Track 1: Dengue fever in Vietnam
• Track 2: Respiratory viruses in the US, including flu, COVID, and RSV

This mirrors how modern antibiotics work across multiple bacterial infections.

From Vietnam to the United States

Hyundai Bioscience emphasized its readiness to expand globally. The company stated that preparation in Vietnam is complete. The next phase focuses squarely on the US healthcare system.

Leadership Perspective from Hyundai Bioscience USA

Jason Kim, CEO of Hyundai Bioscience USA, confirmed regulatory readiness. He stated the company is prepared to submit its IND application to the FDA immediately. The strategy, he noted, aligns closely with unmet needs in US infectious disease care.

A Vision for 2026 and Beyond

Dr. Smith framed the program as a turning point for antiviral medicine. He argued that medicine must stop chasing variants reactively. Instead, he advocates pre-emptive, broad-spectrum antiviral treatments.

According to him, 2026 could mark the first year of multi-virus treatment with a single drug.

About Xafty (CP-COV03)

Xafty is an oral antiviral drug based on niclosamide. It has been reformulated using Hyundai’s proprietary drug delivery system to enhance bioavailability. The drug is designed to target multiple viruses with a shared therapeutic mechanism.

About Hyundai Bioscience

Hyundai Bioscience is a biotechnology company focused on advanced drug delivery systems. It repurposes existing drugs for new therapeutic uses. The company is also a member of the US Medical CBRN Defense Consortium (MCDC).

Why This Matters?

If successful, Xafty could redefine antiviral treatment models. One drug. Multiple viruses. Faster response. That shift could fundamentally change how future pandemics are managed.

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