CHA Biotech and StemLab sign a neural stem cell deal

Oh Sang-hoon, right, CEO of CHA Biotech, and Choi Jong-sung, CEO of StemLab, pose for a photo after signing a contract manufacturing organization deal. [CHA BIOTECH]

CHA Biotech signed a contract manufacturing organization (CMO) deal with StemLab to produce the Seongbuk-based venture start-up's neural stem cells, the company said Thursday.

Under the deal, StemLab will transfer its messenger RNA (mRNA)-based stem cell manufacturing technology to CHA Biotech. CHA Biotech will manufacture neural stem cells in CHA Biolab’s facilities in Pangyo, Gyeonggi. CHA Biolab is 100 percent owned by CHA Biotech.

With the stem cells produced by CHA Biotech, StemLab aims to develop stem cell treatments for spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease and Lou Gehrig’s disease.

StemLab plans to submit an application to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to start clinical trials of the treatment for spinal cord injuries shortly, while it has been conducting preclinical trials for the treatment for Parkinson’s disease and Lou Gehrig’s disease.

“CHA Biotech will fully support StemLab using our experience and know-how in stem cell therapies,” Oh Sang-hoon, CEO of CHA Biotech, said in a Thursday press release.

Established in 2002, CHA Biotech is currently constructing a 65,127-square-meter (701,000-square-foot) contract and development manufacturing organization (CDMO) plant in Pangyo, Gyeonggi, which is expected to be completed in 2024. Its Texas-based wholly owned subsidiary Matica Biotechnology is constructing a CDMO plant and expected to finish it by the end of the year.

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