GC Cell said on the 24th that it has completed registration of a fundamental technology patent in Korea and Japan that serves as a core foundation for developing next-generation cell and gene therapies.
The patent covers technology that controls CIITA (class II major histocompatibility complex transactivator), a key gene that regulates immune rejection. Allogeneic cell therapies, which by nature use another person's cells, have faced criticism for the limitation that a patient's immune system recognizes them as external invaders and attacks.
GC Cell said it has secured a base technology that can reduce immune recognition and decrease immune rejection by regulating CIITA expression.
A company official said, "This technology is differentiated in that it can produce 'low-immunogenic cells' in a relatively simple way without going through a complex process that requires editing multiple genes at the same time," adding, "Another strength is that it is a platform technology applicable to a variety of cell therapies, not limited to specific cell types or indications."
In addition, the company broadly secured rights not only to manufacturing methods that use various gene editors but also to the cells themselves to which the technology is applied. Through this, it expects to further strengthen intellectual property (IP) competitiveness in the future commercialization process of cell therapies.
The achievement was derived in collaboration with Feldan Therapeutics through the "Korea-Canada International Joint Technology Development Project" led by the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technolog (KIAT). However, GC Cell holds 100% of the patent rights.
Won Seong-yong, CEO of GC Cell, said, "It is significant that we secured the results of joint research with a global partner as our own intellectual property," adding, "Based on this patent, we will continue to strengthen our technological competitiveness in the global cell therapy market."