The Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) held a technology licensing press conference on the 26th, unveiling significant advancements in cancer medical research and industrialization. Two major achievements were announced: 

1. Novel FLT3 Inhibitor for Leukemia Treatment**: Exclusively licensed to Pharmasaga, Inc. by the Development Center for Biotechnology (DCB), this innovative FLT3 inhibitor targets leukemia with minimal side effects and addresses the issue of drug resistance in existing medications. This new drug offers a safer and more effective treatment option for late-stage leukemia patients.
2. High-Precision Blood-Based Genetic Testing for Cancer: Developed by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and transferred to RealBio Technology, this genetic test requires only a small blood sample to detect multiple gene targets. It assists doctors in determining cancer status and treatment strategies, with sensitivity over ten times higher than international counterparts. This allows for early detection and treatment of cancer.

Chien-Cheng Dai, a senior official at the DoIT, highlighted that while Taiwan’s semiconductor industry has garnered international attention, the post-COVID era has brought the biomedical industry into the spotlight.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is the most common acute leukemia in adults, characterized by rapid progression and high fatality. About 30% of AML patients have an FLT3 gene mutation, which leads to excessive cell proliferation and cancer. This mutation results in a high relapse rate and shorter survival periods, making it one of the most lethal forms of leukemia. Although FLT3 inhibitors are currently available, patients often develop resistance when treated with FLT3 inhibitors alone, necessitating the use of high-dose chemotherapy, which comes with severe side effects. Thus, developing a safer and more effective drug for AML patients with the FLT3 mutation is urgent.

With financial support from the MOEA's technology development program, the DCB independently developed a highly active and specific oral FLT3 inhibitor using drug structure design and specialized synthesis techniques. This drug not only has low side effects but also solves the problem of drug resistance. Animal experiments have shown that it can completely eliminate tumors when taken orally alone, reducing the risk of cancer recurrence and death, providing a safer and more effective treatment option for late-stage cancer patients. This achievement has been exclusively licensed to Pharmasaga, Inc., which will handle the clinical development of the FLT3 inhibitor.

To safeguard public health, with the support of DoIT's technology projects, ITRI has developed a high-precision blood-based genetic test for cancer. This test can be used for patients with lung nodules smaller than 0.8 cm detected via CT scans. By analyzing tiny amounts of tumor genes in the blood, early cancer detection and diagnosis can be achieved with a precision rate of up to 90%. This test can also detect multiple gene targets simultaneously—15 for colorectal cancer and 8 for lung cancer—helping determine the cancer's status and appropriate treatment plans. The detection time is reduced by at least half compared to leading international products, with sensitivity more than ten times higher than international counterparts. This technology has been transferred to RealBio Technology, with clinical validation expected to start as early as next year.

Resource (mandarin): 經濟部生技研發成果 推新一代血癌藥物、癌症精準基因檢