"The depletion of stem cells and the accumulation of senescent cells are the fundamental causes of aging. An era is opening in which cell regeneration therapy can reverse human biological age."
Robert Hariri, a world-renowned authority in cell therapy, said the importance of cell therapy at BioPlus-Interphex Korea 2025 (BIX2025), held at COEX in Seoul on the 15th.
BIX2025 is an event hosted by the Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization and organized by RX Korea, and it runs for three days from the 15th to the 17th. This year, more than 300 corporations from 15 countries are participating, and more than 550 booths have been set up, making it the largest event ever. The main keyword of this event is "regenerative medicine."
In a special keynote lecture conducted via video that day, Hariri said, "Aging is the common denominator of almost all chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, dementia, and cardiovascular disease," and "An approach that reverses aging at the cellular level will become a new treatment paradigm."
Hariri is considered a pioneer in developing treatment technologies for severe diseases using stem cells. He is the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Celularity, a regenerative medicine corporations that uses placenta-derived stem cells and immune cells. Celularity has a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-registered manufacturing facility and a newborn cell biobank with more than 100,000 samples.
◇"Replenish stem cells and clear senescent cells"
Hariri said cell therapy will become the core of "next-generation medicine" that goes beyond treating disease to extending human lifespan and restoring biological vitality. He summarized the aging process as two biological changes: depletion of stem cells in tissues and accumulation of senescent cells. Hariri explained, "When the number and quality of stem cells decrease simultaneously, the body's natural regenerative capacity drops sharply," adding, "This phenomenon is the root of aging and disease."
In particular, cells derived from the placenta, which supplies nutrients and oxygen to the fetus during pregnancy, were presented as a key to overcoming aging. Hariri said, "The placenta is a source of cells with boundless regenerative capacity," and added, "We are developing therapies that replace and remove aged cells using pluripotent stem cells and natural killer (NK) cells obtained from the placenta."
Hariri predicted that a strategy combining stem cell replenishment with the removal of senescent cells will be the first step in treating aging itself like a disease. He said, "There are early clinical results showing that the biological age of patients administered placental stem cells improved in a short period," adding, "An approach that combines stem cell replenishment with senescent cell clearance will be a key strategy to extend healthy lifespan."
He also expressed expectations for Korea's role. Hariri said, "Korea is among the fastest early adopters in the world in cell therapy and regenerative medicine technologies," and "There are significant opportunities to collaborate with Korea in the longevity and wellness industry." He added, "In the United States, some states such as Florida and Utah already allow clinical application of aging-related cell therapies," and predicted, "Korea can achieve similar regulatory innovation."
◇"Build competitiveness in green and white bio as well"
At the venue, voices called for diversifying technologies and expanding policy support to create a new breakthrough for the bio industry to overcome uncertainties, including the tariff, and strengthen global competitiveness.
Koh Han-seung, chair of the Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization, said at the opening ceremony, "We hope the government will actively respond to external issues such as the tariff and establish support systems that can protect corporations." Koh, who served as president and CEO of Samsung Bioepis, is currently head of future business planning at Samsung Electronics.
Koh also stressed the need to address the concentration in Korea's bio industry and policies. Until now, the bio industry has focused on red bio (medical and pharmaceutical). He said, "Bio is not only about pharmaceuticals," adding, "In diverse fields such as green (agriculture and food) and white (environment and energy) bio, innovation closely tied to daily life can emerge, and new markets are opening up for food and materials development based on synthetic biology."
Koh said, "Chinese corporations are growing rapidly in the pharmaceutical field, but we can find a new breakthrough in green and white bio," and added, "We must work to build an ecosystem so that Korea can demonstrate competitiveness in larger markets in 1, 5, and 10 years."
Lee Seung-ryeol, Deputy Minister for Industrial Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, said in congratulatory remarks, "We plan to expand beyond pharmaceutical-centered red bio to white and green bio and focus support on about 100 key items," adding, "We will also expand export consulting and local bio desks to help companies enter overseas markets."
Lee said, "We are forming the 'M.AX Alliance' to integrate AI into manufacturing and bio and pushing it forward with speed," adding, "We will also move in earnest to develop AI technologies specialized for bio." Launched in Sep., the M.AX Alliance is a council named M.AX by combining the first letter of manufacturing, M, with AI transformation (AX). Minister Kim Jung-kwan of the ministry and Chey Tae-won, chair of KORCHAM, serve as co-chairs.
He said, "To resolve difficulties in the global trade environment, including the tariff, the government will respond proactively," adding, "We will strengthen policy support so that the domestic bio industry can secure leadership in the global market."