SCM Life Science Signs Strategic Technology Commercialization MOU with Inha University and Inha University Hospital

From the left, Lee Taek, Medical Director of Inha University Hospital; Cho Myung-woo, President of Inha University; Son Byung-kwan, CEO of SCM Life Science. / Photo by SCM Life Science

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] SCM Life Sciences (SCM Saengmyeong Gwahak) announced that it has signed a joint business agreement with Inha University and Inha University College of Medicine Affiliated Hospital to promote strategic technology commercialization.

The signing ceremony took place on October 31 in the Inha University Chairman's Office. Attendees included Inha University President Jo Myung-woo, Medical Director Lee Taek of Inha University College of Medicine Affiliated Hospital, SCM Life Sciences CEO Son Byung-kwan, along with faculty members and company executives. They agreed to mutually cooperate in establishing a technology commercialization foundation linking industry, academia, research institutes, hospitals, and government, and to promote strategic technology commercialization.

The main contents of the agreement include ▲establishing a cooperative system for fostering technology commercialization and commercializing research outcomes ▲discovering promising technologies in the bio-medical business sector and operating support programs for technology commercialization ▲sharing medical and clinical information necessary for basic research, translational research, clinical trials, and studies ▲personnel and academic (technical) exchanges, information sharing, and joint use of facilities and equipment ▲planning joint research and conducting national projects ▲and various cooperation to promote technology commercialization.

Son Byung-kwan, CEO of SCM Life Sciences, stated, “Our company’s listing on KOSDAQ, which began from the laboratory startup process at Inha University College of Medicine, was a joint achievement based on trust among cooperating institutions.” He emphasized, “This agreement is also expected to serve as an opportunity to create valuable outputs such as early commercialization of promising basic and translational research results and discovery of promising technologies based on the trust among the three institutions.”

He continued, “Through this agreement, we will focus on enhancing the speed and quality of bio-convergence research outcomes by establishing a research platform foundation linking industry, academia, research institutes, hospitals, and government. SCM Life Sciences will take charge of investments in this regard and contribute to the development of the regional bio-industry and social public interest by fostering early commercialization of excellent research outcomes through sharing the company’s ‘incubating program’ and ‘accelerating’ capabilities, thereby leading the medical industrialization field.”

Jo Myung-woo, President of Inha University, said, “We expect technology commercialization and startup activation based on the university’s excellent medical technologies, and through the convergence of medicine, life sciences, biotechnology, engineering, and IT technologies, we anticipate new innovations.” He added, “I hope the collaboration with SCM Life Sciences will be mutually beneficial.”

Lee Taek, Medical Director of Inha University College of Medicine Affiliated Hospital, remarked, “It is very meaningful that a virtuous cycle structure has been established where a company started from our hospital grows and passes on its know-how and experience back to our hospital researchers. I hope that each institution can mutually develop based on the commercialization of clinical researchers’ research outcomes and joint research.”

Meanwhile, SCM Life Sciences possesses an exclusive proprietary technology platform called the ‘Layer Separation Culture Method,’ which rapidly obtains high-purity, high-efficiency stem cells and enables large-scale cultivation. Based on this, the company is currently developing stem cell therapies for three pipeline indications: chronic graft-versus-host disease, moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, and acute pancreatitis. All main pipelines are currently in Phase 2 clinical trials.

Recently, the Phase 1/2a clinical trial for the acute pancreatitis stem cell therapy (SCM-AGH) was completed, and based on successful clinical results confirming safety and exploratory efficacy, the company plans to apply for an IND (Investigational New Drug application) with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for the Phase 2b clinical trial. For the moderate to severe atopic dermatitis stem cell therapy Phase 2 trial, all patient visits have recently been completed, and clinical results are expected to be announced as early as May next year. The chronic graft-versus-host disease Phase 2 trial is in the final stage of patient enrollment.

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