MGeneSolution is showing strong performance. This is interpreted as related technologies gaining attention amid expectations for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a gene-editing anemia treatment. MGeneSolution is a company focusing on producing genetically modified pigs using gene-editing technology.
As of 10:52 a.m. on the 15th, MGeneSolution is trading at 1,514 KRW, up 4.7% from the previous day.
According to media reports on the day, the FDA held an expert advisory committee meeting on the 31st of last month (local time) to discuss the approval of the gene-editing therapy 'Exa-cel.' The advisory panel recognized the safety of 'Exa-cel' and stated that the possibility of the world's first therapy using CRISPR gene-editing (CRISPR-Cas9) has increased.
The New York Times quoted the expert panel as saying, "The groundbreaking treatment for sickle cell anemia is sufficiently safe for clinical use," and reported that "the FDA has prepared a stage to approve this treatment by December 8."
Until now, sickle cell anemia could only be permanently treated through bone marrow transplantation. However, Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced on the 27th (local time), ahead of the FDA advisory committee meeting, that they had used the Exa-cel treatment on 46 patients. Among them, 30 were followed up for 18 months, and 29 reported no pain for one year.
CRISPR gene-editing (CRISPR-Cas9) is a technology that cuts and corrects specific genes in DNA.
MGeneSolution has developed pigs that secrete human insulin, immunodeficient pigs, and disease model pigs with human diseases using this technology. They also transplanted pancreatic islets from pigs with genes related to transplant rejection removed into diabetic model monkeys, maintaining normal blood sugar levels for over seven months. Currently, they have succeeded in producing six genetically modified pigs and are accelerating product development and clinical preparations.
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