NKMAX Files US Patent Application Related to Parkinson's Disease Treatment
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] NKMAX has filed a patent related to a neurodegenerative disease treatment using its NK cell therapy SuperNK (SNK).
NKMAX's subsidiary NKGEN Biotech announced on the 18th that it has filed a patent in the United States for a treatment for Parkinson's disease, one of the neurodegenerative diseases.
Parkinson's disease, observed in more than 10 million people worldwide, occurs due to the accumulation of abnormal proteins such as alpha-synuclein in the brain, causing damage to the nervous system. This protein accumulation induces neurotoxicity leading to cell death. Currently, Parkinson's disease treatments focus on symptom management and do not address the fundamental problem, resulting in limitations in treatment.
NKMAX expects that SNK can solve the fundamental issues of Parkinson's disease and elucidate a new mechanism. According to the filed patent, SNK cultured for about 17 days secretes interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), which removes damaged neurons and activates microglia, thereby helping to eliminate alpha-synuclein through immune regulatory functions in the brain.
During the SNK culturing process, the expression of various receptors that aid in treating neurodegenerative diseases is increased. SNK uses NKG2D and DNAM-1 receptors to remove damaged neurons and autoreactive T cells that attack the self, preventing the onset of autoimmune diseases and thus inhibiting the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, through the CX3CR1 receptor, SNK can efficiently cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and via the CXCR3 receptor, SNK is assisted in migrating into the central nervous system within the brain.
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An NKMAX official stated, "SNK, combined with NKMAX's excellent culturing technology, has the potential to improve Parkinson's disease," adding, "SNK will help address unmet medical needs by fundamentally improving neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's."
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