Jiuzhitang enters the field of stem cell pharmaceuticals
A traditional Chinese medicine pharmaceutical company recently signed an investment agreement with a US-based cell technology company in Beijing to introduce world’s top stem cells manufacturing technologies and platform into China, and build a stem cells production base in Beijing Daxing Biomedicine Industry Park within 3-5 years.
Recently, Jiuzhitang Yonghe Qihang Fund initiated by TCM company Jiuzhitang officially signed an investment agreement with Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc. located in San Diego, the Biomedicine Valley in US. Stemedica has been engaged in research, manufacturing and marketing of stem cells for more than 10 years. Right now Jiuzhitang is constructing an US FDA and EU cGMP-compliant allogeneic stem cells production facility in Daxing District of Beijing, which will be used to manufacture human bona marrow mesenchymal stem cells and neural stem cells. With an area of 4500 m2, the facility is anticipated to start operation in 2019. Jiuzhitang plans to launch a number of multi-center clinical trials in the future so as to promote development of stem cells pharmaceutical technologies.
According to incomplete statistics, so far 13 stem cell drugs have been approved globally, while China has approved none yet. Making stem cells into drugs is Jiuzhitang’s strategy for development of stem cells products. The company will collaborate with top hospitals at home to conduct multi-center clinical trials and clinical studies that use stem cells to treat neurological, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular indications, thus accelerating the pace of pushing stem cell drugs into market.
Jiuzhitang also signed cooperation contracts with Mexico's Novastem Cell Technology Co. and Kazakhstan's ALTACO Cell Technology Co. respectively to co-build internationalized stem cell research and development platform.
During Global Stem Cell Industry Development Summit Forum held on the same day, Dr. Aaron Ciechanover, 2004 Nobel Prize winner, delivered a speech titled "New medical revolution: at what price will we cure all diseases?"; Dr. Joseph Maroon, an internationally recognized stem cell research specialist explored the topic of "Can stem cells be used as a treatment for traumatic brain injury?" Dr. Michael Levy, a well-known US pediatric neurosurgeon shared with the audience “The efficacy of using stem cells to treat stroke and other severe medical conditions, and presented how clinical trials on cerebral stroke have been going.
Prof. Zhang Yanan from Beijing Tiantan Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University presented plans and protocols of China stem cell clinical trials in fields of neurology and neurosurgery; Prof. Tian Ye from No.1 Hospital affiliated to Harbin Medical University touched on the prospect of treating heart problems with stem cells and sonodynamic regulation of exosomes in the field of heart disease; Prof. Yuan Baozhu, Director of Cell Resource Storage and Research Center, National Institute for Food and Drug Control outlined quality control measures applicable to stem cells.
Copyright: Jiuzhitang Maker (Beijing) Cell Technology Co., Ltd.
