Kolon Life Science announced on March 11 that its osteoarthritis cell and gene therapy “TG-C,” developed by Kolon TissueGene, has been granted a patent in Japan. The patent is for a “pharmaceutical composition for the prevention or treatment of osteoarthritis” related to TG-C. TG-C is a medication that is injected into the knee joint cavity and consists of a mixture of allogeneic chondrocytes derived from cartilage in a 3:1 ratio with radiated, TGF-β1 gene-transfected cells, which suppress inflammation and promote the production of cartilage components.
This patent covers the composition for preventing or treating osteoarthritis, made up of cells of a certain size, and the manufacturing method to obtain cells of such size. It involves using a cell filter with a specific pore size to remove aggregates produced during cell culture or to separate single cells, thereby obtaining cells of a uniform size.
Kolon Life Science has verified that TG-C, manufactured using this method, suppresses joint inflammation, alleviates pain, and improves joint function and structure. The company has secured rights in Japan for the osteoarthritis treatment composition, which includes a specific size group of TGF-β1 gene-transfected chondrocytes and chondrocyte cell groups, and its manufacturing method.
Kim Sun-jin, CEO of Kolon Life Science, stated, “This patent acknowledges the exceptional preventive or therapeutic effects of TG-C against osteoarthritis in Japan, a country advanced in pharmaceuticals and healthcare. Given the increasing interest in osteoarthritis due to an aging population, Japan is expected to become a key international market.”