GC Cell And Lukas Announce Strategic Cooperation Agreement To Jointly Tap Into The Innovative Cell Therapy including And Beyond Korean And Taiwanese Market
GC Cell Corporation (144510) and Lukas Biomedical Co., Ltd. (TWSE 6814) have officially signed an international strategic cooperation agreement. GC Cell, a trailblazer in cell and gene therapy, is a subsidiary of the prominent Korean-listed pharmaceutical group GC Biopharma Corp.
This partnership is designed to enhance awareness of autologous T cell therapy and broaden patient access by leveraging each company's strengths in innovative cell treatment. The collaboration will involve sharing cutting-edge research projects, clinical trial data, regulatory expertise across multiple countries, and exploring clinical research and market development activities for cancer and other challenging diseases. Both parties aim to accelerate drug development and establish a platform for precision medicine solutions, bringing the benefits of innovative cell therapy to a wider range of patients.
GC Cell's Immuncell-LC autologous T cell therapy has already made significant strides, having completed clinical trials in Japan and Korea. It received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in 2007 after successful Phase IV trials and has treated over 10,000 patients in Korea, achieving strong clinical and commercial results. Lukas's LuLym-T memory T cell cultivation technology, originating from the Japanese National Cancer Center and GC LTEC (formerly Lymphotec, a Green Cross Group subsidiary), has been introduced to Taiwan through a licensing agreement and technology transfer. Lukas is focusing on market expansion and further enhancement of this technology.
Taiwan's government is committed to advancing the regenerative medicine sector, evidenced by the enactment of the Regenerative Medicine Act on June 4 this year. Lukas's LuLym-T cell therapy technology, supported by international clinical trials and data from GC Cell, aligns well with Taiwanese policies and regulations. It is positioned to obtain five-year conditional approval under the new regulations, establishing Lukas as a key player in Taiwan's cell therapy landscape. Lukas has partnered with 13 medical institutions, including National Taiwan University Hospital, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and Taipei Veterans General Hospital, to conduct Phase II clinical trials. These trials focus on preventing liver cancer recurrence and exploring combined immunotherapy with chemotherapy/radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.
Dr. Eric Tang, Chairman of Lukas, highlighted that GC Cell and Lukas will collaborate through a Joint Committee (JC) to exchange expertise and experience in memory T cell technology for various cancers. This collaboration includes sharing clinical and commercial knowledge, insights, and strategies, as well as exploring opportunities for cross-licensing and joint clinical trials (IITs and SITs) in each other's regions. They also aim to discuss new international markets, joint investments, and beyond.
James Park, CEO of GC Cell, stated, "This strategic cooperation agreement is a pivotal milestone in accelerating the advancement of innovative cell therapies in Korea and Taiwan and in establishing a global network and ecosystem for cell and gene therapy. We are committed to accelerating the global expansion of Immuncell-LC through continuous clinical research data exchange and building a strong, long-term partnership."
Dr. Eric Tang added, "The Taiwanese government's implementation of the Special Regulations on Regenerative Medicine allows us to apply our LuLym-T cell technology to advanced-stage cancer patients with various solid tumors. We have extensive clinical experience using LuLym-T cells with conventional treatments like chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and checkpoint inhibitors, achieving significant prognostic improvements. We hope to help more cancer patients by sharing our experience globally."
This strategic cooperation represents a significant step toward a shared vision of improving patient outcomes through innovative cell therapies and precision medicine.
About Immuncell-LC
Immuncell-LC is a commercially available treatment for early-stage HCC, composed of autologous, cultured blood-derived T lymphocytes. Proven in a large-scale Phase 3 clinical trial, it reduced recurrence risk by 37% and mortality rate by 79% compared to the control group. It has treated over 10,000 patients in South Korea without serious adverse events.
About GC Cell
Focusing on cell therapy, GC Cell offers comprehensive bio healthcare solutions from diagnosis to treatment, covering R&D, production, commercialization, and distribution.
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