Cha Biotech Selected for 3 Projects in Government Regenerative Medicine Technology Development Program

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo Sojeong] Cha Biotech (CEO Oh Sang-hoon) announced on the 23rd that its stem cell therapy development research project has been selected as a recipient of the government's 'Regenerative Medical Technology Development Project' support.

The Regenerative Medical Technology Development Project is an initiative promoted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Health and Welfare to secure regenerative medical therapeutics and treatment technologies. It supports all stages of research and development from basic research to clinical trials, with a total investment of 595.5 billion KRW over 10 years starting this year.

This year, a total of 51 projects were selected and supported across three fields: development of core regenerative medical technologies, development of regenerative medical related technologies, and development of regenerative medical therapeutics and treatment technologies. These include 5 public research institutions, 23 universities, and 23 hospitals and private companies (research institutes).

Cha Biotech's selected research projects include ▲a chronic low back pain treatment for degenerative lumbar intervertebral discs (CordSTEM-DD), ▲a Parkinson's disease treatment using dopaminergic neural progenitor cells (CBT-NPC), and ▲an ovarian insufficiency treatment using umbilical cord-derived stem cells (CordSTEM-POI). Cha Biotech has secured 5.7 billion KRW in R&D funds to promote clinical trials and commercialization by 2024.

The project to develop a chronic low back pain treatment for degenerative lumbar intervertebral discs involves developing a treatment using umbilical cord-derived stem cells. Safety was confirmed in Phase 1 clinical trials, and efficacy is being confirmed in Phase 2a trials. The goal is to successfully complete Phase 2a trials by 2023 and obtain approval for the Phase 2b trial plan (IND).

The Parkinson's disease treatment development project using dopaminergic neural progenitor cells involves developing a treatment using neural progenitor cells that secrete dopamine. Through investigator-initiated clinical trials, improvements in motor function and safety have been confirmed, and research is ongoing aiming for IND approval for Phase 1 clinical trials.

The project for ovarian insufficiency treatment using umbilical cord-derived stem cells is focused on developing a fundamental treatment that can promote the growth and activation of primordial follicles.

Oh Sang-hoon, CEO of Cha Biotech, said, "The selection of Cha Biotech's research projects for the Regenerative Medical Technology Development Project is the result of focusing on cell therapy R&D based on Cha Biotech Group's industry-academia-research-hospital ecosystem," adding, "We will successfully complete the projects and accelerate commercialization going forward."