GWOXI Stem Cell announced today that it has been granted Invention Patent No. I 841986 by the Intellectual Property Office for the use of highly phenotypic mesenchymal stem cells to treat frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and amyloidosis-related disorders. This development is expected to advance therapies for rare diseases and offers hope to nearly 350,000 dementia patients in Taiwan. Pending the enactment of the Regenerative Medical Products Act, it is anticipated to become one of the treatment options for patients with Alzheimer’s disease in the future.
Dementia can be classified into several major types, among which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative form. It primarily affects individuals over 65 years old, and in Taiwan, one in five people over 80 suffers from dementia. Currently, there are approximately 350,000 people aged 65 and above with dementia in Taiwan, and it is projected that by 2030, this number will rise to 680,000, highlighting a steadily increasing trend.
Research indicates that the deposition of beta-amyloid (β-amyloid) in the brain, which triggers neuroinflammation, is a primary cause of Alzheimer’s disease. In contrast, frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) does not necessarily involve β-amyloid aggregation, but is associated with hyperphosphorylation and abnormal aggregation of tau proteins, leading to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles and dysregulated neuronal trophic support.
The patent for “Highly Phenotypic Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Their Cultivation Methods, and Applications” is based on a pharmaceutical composition generated by co-culturing mesenchymal stem cells and neural stem cells, or with specific proteins, producing the Left-Right Determination Factor 2 (LEFT2). This composition has been shown to inhibit beta-amyloid (β-amyloid) deposition and hyperphosphorylated tau proteins, thereby providing a therapeutic effect for neurodegenerative diseases.
GWOXI is a stem cell-based drug development company with exceptional innovation and R&D capabilities, experienced research talent, and a trusted stem cell technology platform and product portfolio. Its technology spans the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors of the regenerative medicine industry. Focusing on innovation and research, GWOXI continuously invests in R&D and has successfully achieved multiple forward-looking research milestones. Moving forward, the company will continue to use Taiwan as its R&D base and leverage strategic patent filings to create additional niche market opportunities.