The National Institute of Health under the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has established "clinical-grade induced pluripotent stem cells" that can be used to develop cell therapies. This is the first time in Korea that a master cell bank of induced pluripotent stem cells suitable for clinical use has been established.
The National Institute of Health said on the 29th that it has secured clinical-grade induced pluripotent stem cells produced under good manufacturing practice (GMP) standards to support the development of cell therapies by domestic research institutions and bio companies.
Induced pluripotent stem cells can differentiate into various cells, including blood cells such as red blood cells and platelets, making them highly useful for developing artificial blood and cell therapies.
Aiming to develop artificial blood, the institute received blood donations from four Rh(D)+ type O donors and two Rh(D)- type O donors, produced a total of 18 cell lines, and completed quality testing. Among these, it established a master cell bank (MCB) that preserves standard original cells for one Rh+ type O induced pluripotent stem cell line.
With the government establishing clinical-grade standard cells, the burden on research institutions and corporations to produce cells themselves is expected to ease, and the time and expense required to enter cell therapy development and clinical research will likely be shortened.
Im Seung-kwan, commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said, "We will strengthen support for the development of regenerative medicine therapies, taking the establishment of the national master cell bank for induced pluripotent stem cells as an opportunity."