GI Innovation said it has entered into a partnership with GI Cell and Yonsei University Health System (YUHS) to establish a cell therapy center for advanced biopharmaceuticals.

Under the accord, GI Innovation and GI Cell will increase the production capability of advanced biopharmaceuticals with YUHS by establishing good manufacturing practice (GMP) facilities in Severance Hospital and Songdo Severance Hospital under construction.

The three parties will also conduct joint research, research facilities and equipment, academic conferences, and seminars essential for developing advanced biopharmaceuticals, such as cell therapy, new protein, and antibody.

Through the cooperation, GI Innovation expects to establish a seamless process, such as research, production, clinical trials, and regulatory approval of innovative cell therapy through the collaboration with GI Innovation’s knowhow on a new innovative drug, GI Cell’s differentiated immune cell culture- technology and YUHS which has high clinical trials, treatment, and research capabilities.

“We have secured a base camp to provide hope for terminal cancer patients who do not have any treatment options through establishing a GMP facility in Severance Hospital, where globally renowned clinical doctors work,” GI Innovation Chair Jang Myung-ho said. “We will do our best to maximize innovative efforts and efficiency through close cooperation.”

YUHS President and CEO Yoon Dong-sup also said, “This agreement will serve as a stepping stone to overcome an incurable disease, and we will make opportunities to each organizer as well as the entire domestic bio industries through implementing of industry-academic collaboration model, medicine development and production, a clinical application that organically connects.”