Aju Business Daily

SEOUL -- CHA Biotech, a biopharmaceutical company with South Korea's largest pipeline of stem cell therapies, has obtained a U.S. patent on the method of growing stem cells separated from the placenta's amniotic membrane that can be used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and cerebral infarction.

The patent is related to a technology that allows stem cells to be mass grown in high purity. Compared to existing adult stem cells, CHA Biotech said its placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells contain various therapeutic efficacies.

CHA Biotech said that stem cells manufactured with its technology secrete a variety of proteins that are effective in treating nerve damage and inflammation. The company is conducting clinical trials of "PlaSTEM-AD," a treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

"With this U.S. patent, we have secured a priority to develop a cure for neurological diseases using stem cells from the amniotic membrane, which originated from the placenta," CHA Biotech CEO Oh Sang-hoon said. "In the future, we will improve our global competitiveness by developing various technologies related to cell therapy and registering patents."

CHA Biotech's parent medical group established a cell therapy center in Tokyo in 2013. In June, the company secured 54.3 billion won ($46 million) by selling off a 60 percent stake in its U.S. branch.