Southeast Atomic Energy Medical Institute, starting next year, makes a big splash in cutting-edge regenerative medicine… knocking on the global market as well
input 2024.11.27 11:02
input 2024.11.27 11:02correction 2024.11.28 10:08
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NK cells are one of the representative immune cells that defeat cancer cells and viruses. [사진=픽사베이 pixabay]NK (Natural Killer) cells, which are very important for human immunity, are the leader of the attack. When cancer or a virus invades, we run straight ahead and build an initial line of defense without looking back. T (Thymus) immune cells, which play a similar role, must recognize cancer antigens to function, but NK cells directly attack cancer even without these conditions.
However, the occurrence of cancer means that the number and function of NK cells have decreased significantly. This means that we are losing ground in the war against cancer. Therefore, to prevent and treat cancer, NK cells must be strengthened.
However, it is very difficult to produce NK cells in large quantities. This means that there are limits to its widespread use in clinical settings. Many years have passed since we knew the importance of NK cells but could not do anything about it.
Coincidentally, the Dongnam Institute of Nuclear Medicine developed a technology to mass-cultivate it using radiation. These are also NK cells of high purity. Two situations that occurred this year represent this.
[그림=동남권원자력의학원]
Patent for NK cell mass culture technology that will accelerate cancer treatment… “First in Yeongnam region”
At the end of last year, Dongnam Regional Institute of Nuclear Medicine signed a special contract with Dong-A University Hospital in Busan. This is a cell therapy clinical study focused on pancreatic cancer patients. The plan is to use NK cells in combination with existing ‘standard anti-cancer treatment’ (surgery, anti-cancer treatment, etc.). This is because there is a high possibility of increasing the effect further with the 1+1 method.
The NK cells used here are cultured and provided by the Dongnam Institute of Nuclear Medicine, which possesses the original technology. A patent has already been received.
[사진=동남권원자력의학원]The potential of NK cells is greater. It has more diverse uses than T immune cell therapy, which is quite expensive and difficult to use widely for many patients, making treatment more accessible to patients. In addition, clinical research on mass culturing NK cells using radiation is the first in the Yeongnam region, at least in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, as well as Daegu and Gyeongbuk.
Yusoo Park (MD), head of the advanced regenerative medicine research team who has been researching this, said, “Although this clinical study is still focused on ‘safety’ evaluation, if the addition of NK cells can strengthen the immunity of cancer patients and even accelerate the elimination of cancer cells, this will be He said, “It’s groundbreaking.”
We have already seen the potential for industrialization of NK cell culture technology. Last September, we also transferred technology to a bio company. The platform technology (patent 10-2256272), which separates NK cells from blood and proliferates them in large quantities with high efficiency, is made available for a technology fee. 1 billion won is a fixed technology fee, and if sales occur later, an additional 3% of total sales is received as a recurring technology fee.
NK immune cells can be applied not only to ‘solid cancers’ attached to body organs such as liver cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, but also to ‘blood cancer’. This means that if a treatment is made from NK cells, the indications are wide. This is why the steps of the Southeast Nuclear Medicine Institute, which has the original technology for mass cultivation, have no choice but to accelerate.
“NK cell culture platform this year, liver cancer combination treatment next year”
The Dongnam Area Atomic Energy Medical Institute has already received designation as a ‘cell processing facility’ from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2022. A type of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) facility that can isolate NK cells and use them to create future treatments. It was the core foundation for accumulating technology for mass culturing NK immune cells using radiation.
Based on these achievements, it was also designated as an ‘advanced regenerative medicine implementation institution’ in October. Now we have the foundation. Clinical research on cancer patients can now be conducted directly at the Atomic Energy Hospital of the Southeastern Atomic Energy Medical Center.
It will start with liver cancer patients next year. Combination treatment of liver cancer by adding NK cells to standard chemotherapy. According to the results of the clinical research, the scope of application will be rapidly expanded to other cancer types such as stomach cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, and blood cancer. This means that we are entering a full-fledged take-off stage.
Dongnam Area Atomic Energy Medical Center, “Development of CAR-NK cell therapy…knocking on the global market”
Furthermore, it could lead to the development of CAR-NK cell therapy, which the world is paying attention to. It is a structure that equips brave NK cells with another high-performance weapon called CAR (Chimeric Antigen Receptor). CAR attaches to cancer cells and helps NK cells eliminate cancer more accurately.
[사진=동남권원자력의학원]In addition, CAR-NK cell therapy has the advantage of solving the problem of side effects that occur in CAR-T cell therapy and greatly expanding the treatment range for solid tumors. This means that it has the potential to replace CAT-T treatment.
Team leader Park Yoo-soo said, “If we advance to CAT-NK cell therapy, the treatment effect on cancer will become stronger.” He added, “Many places around the world are conducting clinical research on NK cell therapy, but no new drugs have been officially released yet.” If the NK cell mass culture platform technology using radiation verifies the possibility of treating various types of cancer and further confirms the possibility of CAR-NK, this could serve as a stepping stone for the Southeast Atomic Energy Research Institute to advance into the global market.
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