The government says a South Korean genetic treatment drug has received approval for clinical tests in the United States for the first time.

The Commerce Ministry said Monday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave the approval to the Seoul-based Viromed for a drug designed to treat coronary artery disease.

Since June last year, the ministry and the company have injected two-point-four billion won in a joint research program that developed the bio drug, VM 202.