[Feature Stock] Nature Cell Surges 9% on Expectations for JointStem Patient Administration

Nature Cell is showing strong performance in early trading.

As of 9:06 a.m. on June 26, Nature Cell was trading at 31,350 won, up 9.81% (2,800 won) from the previous day.

Investor sentiment appears to have been boosted by news that the domestically developed stem cell therapy 'JointStem' by Nature Cell has cleared the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hurdle, paving the way for administration to patients.

On this day, Nature Cell announced on its website, "The EAP (Expanded Access Program) protocol for the compassionate use of JointStem by patients in the United States, which was submitted on May 29, has been finally approved by the FDA as of June 25 (local time)," adding, "We will register the protocol and begin patient treatment within the day."

The EAP is a system that provides patients with incurable diseases or terminal cancer, for whom existing treatments are ineffective or appropriate drugs are unavailable, with access to investigational drugs free of charge before official marketing approval, thereby offering treatment opportunities. Previously, JointStem became the first Korean stem cell therapy to receive the FDA's Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD).