Daewoong works with bio venture to develop new exosome treatment

By Lim Chang-won Posted : January 6, 2022, 12:47 Updated : January 6, 2022, 12:47

[Courtesy of Daewoong Pharmaceutical]

SEOUL -- Daewoong Pharmaceutical, a bioengineering company in South Korea, will work with a domestic bio venture to develop new treatment indications by extracting and refining exosomes from embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Exosome treatment is attracting attention as a next-generation biopharmaceutical due to its superior efficacy, small side effects, and high stability and purity. 

Exosomes, which are recognized for their critical role in cell-to-cell communication and transportation, are small vesicles found in nearly all eukaryotic fluids and facilitate a variety of important cellular functions. An important function is to transfer DNA, RNA, and proteins to other cells. The market for exosome therapeutics has been growing rapidly.

Daewoong and Exostemtech will establish a technology to extract and refine exosomes from Daewoong's embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cell DW-MSC, and cooperate in expanding exosome treatment and discovering new indications. They will try to conduct joint clinical trials with Exostemtech's pipeline and transfer technology.

As a strategic investor, Daewoong will push for the establishment of a new business model. "We have high expectations on joint work with Exostemtech, which has excellent stem cell technology-based exosome production and analysis technology, to conduct various stem cell research together as stem cell exosome partners," Daewoong CEO Jeon Seung-ho: said in a statement on January 6.

Exostemtech has developed therapeutic agents using stem cell-derived exosomes for tissue repair and regeneration, as well as the treatment of liver fibrosis and osteoarthritis.   Daewoong has developed cell therapy products using mesenchymal stem cells. Stem cells have a unique ability to develop into specialized cell types in the body. 

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