Following mRNA vaccines and diagnostics, cell therapy too, has been developed at a fast pace, with Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) amongst others as forerunning therapeutics, said BIONET Corp, a Taiwan-based pioneer in generic engineering and cell therapy.

There are 348 trials currently using MSC as COVID-19 therapeutics across 77 countries. Taiwan and Thailand have approved compassionate use of MSC treatment which, in Indonesia, could be greenlighted as emergency use.  

BIONET is the first in Asia with banking umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells, supplying MSCs to nearly 30 clinical trials for indications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), lung fibrosis and bronchiectasis of prematurity (BPD). BIONET has four cell therapies- ARDS, lung fibrosis, cerebral palsy and wound healing, that entered clinical trials. Tri-Service General Hospital and other medical centres work with BIONET for the treatment of ARDS and wound healing.

BIONET explained that Taiwan needs something that is critical for healthcare, as vaccine development is challenging and big market players are already there. Japan is the only one in Asia promotes cell therapy but Taiwan is now catching up with pricing, policies, regulations and specialties regarding regenerative medicine. Taiwan stands a good chance to be the leader Asia for cell therapy, said BIONET.

Source in Chinese: news.cnyes.com