[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] GC Green Cross Wellbeing announced on the 7th that it has filed an international patent (PCT) for a 'composition for treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) disease containing placental extract.'
This patent application was based on research results conducted by the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology's Zebrafish-based Platform Project Group, supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The study was conducted by analyzing the area and intensity of the liver stained with fluorescent dye in a zebrafish model, which has high genetic similarity to humans, through heat maps.
As a result, the experimental group treated with 0.05% to 0.1% placental extract showed about a 60% reduction in fat accumulation compared to the tamoxifen-induced fatty liver model. Additionally, in a separate obesity-induced mouse model (C57BL/6J), it was confirmed that placental extract significantly inhibited aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), indicators of liver tissue damage.
GC Green Cross Wellbeing is currently conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial of placental extract on patients with chronic liver disease. A company official explained, "Regarding this PCT application, we plan to enter each country targeting global markets such as the United States, Europe, and China next year."
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic disease characterized by fat accumulation and inflammation in the liver regardless of alcohol consumption history. Although the number of patients has increased recently due to Westernized dietary habits, there is still no approved treatment. The market size for treatments is estimated to be around 30 trillion KRW by 2026.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
