Pamisel Publishes Results of Stem Cell Treatment for Severe COVID-19 Patients

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] Pharmicell announced on the 24th that the results of administering allogeneic bone marrow-derived stem cell therapy to patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) were published in the international academic journal 'Medicina.'

Pharmicell and the research team from Wonju College of Medicine administered the allogeneic bone marrow-derived stem cell therapy 'Cellgram-AKI' to treat severe patients who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19. The patient was in a critical condition, requiring high-concentration oxygen through intubation, but after the therapy, the patient’s condition improved enough to breathe independently.

The research team conducted a chest CT scan 106 days after administering the therapy. They confirmed improvements in lung function, such as a reduction in GGO (Ground-Glass Opacity) and sclerosis, as well as a decrease in the size of nodules located in the upper right lung. This suggests that stem cell therapy can be helpful in treating patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by COVID-19.

A Pharmicell official stated, "We used allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells for patients who could not undergo bone marrow harvesting due to COVID-19 virus infection," adding, "Due to the characteristics of allogeneic stem cell therapy, the harvesting process is omitted, allowing rapid administration to critically ill and elderly patients whose lives are at risk."

He continued, "The approval for compassionate use from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety was quickly obtained, enabling treatment of severe patients," and explained, "The therapy was administered to 10 patients."

Previously, in March 2020, Pharmicell received approval for compassionate use of 'Cellgram-AKI' to treat severe COVID-19 patients.