Patent for ‘CIITA Control Technology’ to Reduce Immune Rejection Jointly developed with Canada, now 100% owned by GC Cell
GC Cell announced on the 24th that it has completed patent registrations in Korea and Japan for core fundamental technologies for the development of next-generation cell and gene therapies.
The patent covers a technology that controls Class II MHC Transcription Activator (CIITA), a key gene that regulates immune rejection responses. CIITA is described as a core transcription co-activator that regulates the expression of MHC class II genes, which encode molecules that present external antigens to CD4 T cells.
In general, allogeneic cell therapies that use cells from other individuals face limitations because the patient’s immune system recognizes the cells as foreign and attacks them. GC Cell has secured a foundational technology that can reduce immune recognition and mitigate immune rejection responses by regulating this gene.
In particular, this technology is evaluated as innovative because it can produce hypoimmunogenic cells through a relatively simple method, without going through complex processes that require simultaneous editing of multiple genes. In addition, as it is a platform technology that is not limited to specific cell types or indications and can be applied to a variety of cell therapies, its potential range of application is expected to expand further in the future.
GC Cell emphasized that it has broadly secured rights not only to manufacturing methods using various gene-editing tools, but also to the cells themselves produced by applying this technology. The company expects this will further strengthen its competitiveness in the commercialization of cell therapies going forward.
This achievement was derived through collaboration with Canada’s Feldan Therapeutics under the “Korea–Canada International Joint Technology Development Project” led by the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT). However, GC Cell holds 100% of the patent rights.
Won Sung-yong, CEO of GC Cell, said, “It is significant that we have secured the outcome of joint research with a global partner as our own intellectual property (IP),” adding, “Based on this patent, we will continue to strengthen our technological competitiveness in the global cell therapy market.”
Kim Min-beom
AI-translated with ChatGPT. Provided as is; original Korean text prevails.
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