Researchers at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience & Biotechnology (KRIBB) have developed the technology to treat leukemia and lung cancer by differentiating and proliferating natural killer (NK) cells derived from hematopoietic stem cells.

Professor Choi In-pyo at the institute has led the research team.

After confirming the efficacy and safety of NK cells through a non-clinical experiment, Professor Choi’s team conducted a joint study with Professor Lee Gyu-hyung at Asan Medical Center and applied the treatment to patients with refractory leukemia.

As a result, the researchers confirmed that the technology dramatically increased the survival rate of patients.

“The newly developed NK cell-based anticancer immune cell therapy technology does not proliferate itself after injection into the human body but attacks cancer cells and gradually disappears,” the team said. “Compared to T-cell-based immune cell treatments, it rarely causes side effects and reduces treatment costs.”

After completing the clinical trial, KRIBB has licensed out the technology to Ingenium Therapeutics, a local bioventure, expecting that the technology will help develop immunotherapy for refractory leukemia and lung cancer and solid cancer treatment in the future.

KRIBB will receive an upfront payment of 9.5 billion won ($8.3 million) and get up to 145 billion won according to future sales performance.

KRIBB and Ingenium Therapeutics will also conduct joint research to start clinical trials within this year.