With 537 million diabetes patients worldwide, up to one-third of them may suffer from diabetic foot ulcers, which are difficult to heal and prone to infection, potentially leading to amputation or even life-threatening situations. Taiwan's Reliance Medical Technology Co. (RMT Co.) and the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) signed a cooperation agreement on the 19th to develop "allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell therapy for the repair of diabetic foot ulcer wounds." Animal experiments have shown that injecting allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells into the wound can significantly reduce the treatment time by one-third and delay deterioration. The therapy will enter Phase I clinical trials, aiming to provide the best solution for diabetic foot ulcer patients.
RMT Co., a subsidiary of the RMT Holdings Group, recently obtained the technology license for stem cell therapy from the Industrial Technology Research Institute and held a signing ceremony in Tokyo, Japan, on March 19. The RMT Holdings Group also announced the establishment of its official branch office in Japan.
Dr. Eric Y. Chuang, Director of the Biomedical Technology Division at ITRI, pointed out that Japan is a leading country in the field of cell therapy, with its related regulations and industry support attracting worldwide attention. RMT, as the seventh largest shareholder of Japan's StemCell Institute, today established its branch office in Japan, indicating unlimited prospects for regenerative medicine and widespread recognition of its products in the industry.
ITRI's Biomedical Technology Division is a strategic partner of RMT Co., and both parties continue to expand the application areas of regenerative medicine. In the near future, they will join forces to develop repair products for diabetic foot ulcers by leveraging ITRI's research and development capabilities.
According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), there are 537 million diabetes patients worldwide, and 19% to 34% of them may develop diabetic foot ulcers during their lifetime. Approximately 20% of foot ulcer patients may require lower limb amputation. With the increasing global diabetic population, the issue is receiving more attention.
Dr. Eric Y. Chuang pointed out that ITRI's allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell therapy for repairing diabetic foot wounds has been proven in animal experiments to significantly reduce treatment time by one-third and delay deterioration. Moreover, the technology offers advantages such as high cell quality, ready availability, no need for cultivation, and relatively low cost.
Dr. Wang Yu-chi, Head of the Regenerative Medicine Technology Group at ITRI, explained that this allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell therapy uses bone marrow stem cells. Suitable "universal donors" are identified in collaboration with domestic hospitals, and their bone marrow stem cells are then cultured and prepared. These allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells can be used for patients to enhance immune modulation and promote neovascularization of ulcer wounds through injection and other drug delivery methods.
This allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell therapy for repairing diabetic foot ulcers has obtained clinical trial approval in Taiwan. As for actual market availability, it will depend on case acceptance and research progress. Through collaboration with RMT Co. in Taiwan, it is hoped that RMT Co. will continue to conduct post-clinical trials and promote product commercialization, jointly providing the best solution for diabetic foot ulcer patients worldwide.
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