YONGIN, South Korea, July 21,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- GC Cell Corporation
(hereinafter referred to as "GC Cell"; 144510:KOSDAQ) and Lukas
Biomedical Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Lukas," TWSE
6814) has formally signed an international strategic cooperation
agreement.
GC Cell is a fully integrated pioneer in cell and gene therapy
and a subsidiary of the renowned Korean-listed pharmaceutical group
Green Cross Corporation, which has a market value of approximately
1.3 trillion Korean won (around
1 billion US dollars).
This collaboration aims to increase awareness of autologous T
cell therapy as well as to expand the patient access market through
leveraging each other's strengths in innovative cell treatment
areas. By sharing cutting-edge research projects, clinical trial
data, regulatory knowledge across multiple countries, and exploring
clinical research, market development, and various activities for
cancers and other challenging diseases, both parties strive to
accelerate drug development and establish a platform for precision
medicine solutions. This partnership seeks to bring the benefits of
innovative cell therapy to a wider range of patients.
Having successfully completed clinical trials in Japan and Korea, GC Cell's Immuncell-LC
autologous T cell therapy obtained approval from the Ministry of
Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in 2007 following favorable Phase IV
trials. With a track record of over 10,000 treatment cases, GC Cell
has been obtaining successful clinical and commercial records in
Korea. Lukas's LuLym-T memory T cell cultivation technology
originated from Japanese National Cancer Center and GC LTEC,
formerly Lymphotec, a subsidiary of Green Cross Group. Based on the
licensing agreement with originator of the technology and the tech
transfer from the company, Lukas has brought this technology to
Taiwan for market expansion and
further enhancement.
Taiwan's government has
demonstrated significant commitment to the advancement of the
regenerative medicine sector. Following the implementation of the
Special Regulations on Regenerative Medicine, the Regenerative
Medicine Act was enacted on June 4
this year. Lukas's LuLym-T cell therapy technology, supported by
international clinical trials and evidence-based data generated by
GC Cell, aligns closely with Taiwan governmental policies and regulations.
It appears poised to secure a five-year conditional approval under
the new regulations, thus establishing Lukas as a prominent player
in Taiwan's cell therapy
landscape, with a focus on domestic growth and global market
expansion. Presently, Lukas has entered agreements with 13 medical
institutions, including National Taiwan University Hospital,
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and
Taipei Veterans General Hospital, to conduct Phase II clinical
trials focused on preventing liver cancer recurrence and exploring
combined immunotherapy with chemotherapy/radiotherapy for head and
neck cancer at Taipei Veterans General Hospital.
Lukas' Chairman, Dr. Eric Tang,
highlighted that GC Cell and Lukas will collaborate through a
Joint Committee (JC) to exchange expertise and experience in
researching memory T cell technology for various cancers in their
respective countries. This collaboration involves sharing clinical
and commercial knowledge, insights, and strategies, as well as
exploring opportunities for cross-licensing and conducting joint
clinical trials (IITs and SITs) in each other's regions. Moreover,
they aim to discuss the opportunities to jointly explore new
international markets, joint investment and beyond.
James Park, CEO of GC Cell,
stated, "This strategic cooperation agreement represents a pivotal
milestone in accelerating the advancement of innovative cell
therapies in Korea and Taiwan and
also in establishing global network and ecosystem of Cell and Gene
Therapy. Looking ahead, we are committed to accelerating the global
expansion of Immuncell-LC through the continuous exchange of
clinical research data and the establishment of a strong, long-term
partnership between our two companies."
Dr. Eric Tang, Chairman of Lukas
stated that: "In addition to our clinical trial for preventing
liver cancer recurrence, the Taiwanese government's implementation
of the Special Regulations on Regenerative Medicine has allowed us
to apply our LuLym-T cell technology on advanced stage cancer
patients with various types of solid tumors. We have accumulated
vast clinical experience in concomitant use of LuLym-T cell
together with conventional treatment, such as: chemotherapy,
radiotherapy, and checkpoint inhibitors. We are able to achieve
significant prognostic improvements using a multi-modality
treatment paradigm for advanced stage cancers and we hope we will
be able to help more cancer patients in need by sharing our
experience with other countries".
This strategic cooperation represents a significant step toward
a shared vision of improving patient outcomes through innovative
cell therapies and precision medicine.
About Immuncell-LC
Immuncell-LC is the only commercially available treatment option
of early-stage HCC. It is primarily composed of autologous,
cultured blood-derived T lymphocytes with proven efficacy through a
large-scale Phase 3 clinical trial which reduced the risk of
recurrence by 37% and decreased the mortality rate by 79% compared
to the control group. To date, Immuncell-LC has been administered
to over 10,000 patients in South
Korea without serious adverse events.
About GC Cell
With a core focus on cell therapy, GC Cell offers complete bio
healthcare solutions from diagnosis to treatment, and the brand's
comprehensive value chain spans R&D, production,
commercialization, and distribution.
More info: https://gccell.com/
About Lukas Biomedical
Lukas is dedicated to advancing its LuLym-T cell therapy R&D
and clinical advancements, enhancing clinical trials and
technologies, and expanding into foreign markets. Lukas has already
attracted interest in Southeast
Asia and is in talks and finalizing cooperation agreements
with medical teams in the region. With a steady cash flow from its
e-commerce business and hospital management platform, Lukas is
well-positioned to expand its "LuLym-T" cell therapy business and,
generating optimum value for shareholders and employees.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gc-cell-and-lukas-announce-strategic-cooperation-agreement-to-jointly-tap-into-the-innovative-cell-therapy-including-and-beyond-korean-and-taiwanese-market-302201307.html
SOURCE GC Cell