GC LabCell’s CT303 psoriasis treatment enters Phase 1 trials

GC LabCell's headquarters in Yongin, Gyeonggi. [GC PHARMA]

GC LabCell’s CT303 psoriasis stem cell therapy candidate won approval for Phase 1 clinical trials in Korea, the pharmaceutical company said Thursday.

Upon authorization from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the trial will be conducted on 24 patients who have been suffering from moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. The trials aim to test the candidate's safety and tolerability.

Seoul National University Hospital, Pusan National University Hospital and CHA University Bundang Medical Center will take part in the clinical trials.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that around three percent of people globally have. About 1.5 million Koreans are estimated to have the disease, according to GC LabCell.

“Along with the development of cell immunotherapy based on natural killer cells, GC LabCell has been working hard to develop stem cell-based treatments,” said Park Dae-woo, CEO of GC LabCell. “Starting with the psoriasis treatment, the company will begin clinical trials related to other diseases, like autoimmune diseases, in the second half.”

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]