Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that is caused by multiple factors such as genetics, environment, immunological abnormalities, and skin barrier dysfunction. In particular, environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, exposure to irritants, allergens, and stress greatly affect the onset or worsening of atopic dermatitis symptoms.
Atopic dermatitis, which was mainly reserved for infants and adolescents, is increasing mainly in adult patients. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of atopic dermatitis patients in Korea increased from 933,797 in 2017 to 980,750 in 2021, and more than 50,000 in five years. 523,840 a year, an increase of regarding 120,000 in five years.
Unlike pediatric patients, adult patients have symptoms concentrated around the eyes and mouth, neck, and ears, causing difficulties in interpersonal relationships and social life. The average duration of the disease in adult patients is as long as 23-28 years, and 20-46% of them are reported to be in moderate to severe condition. In particular, when atopic dermatitis becomes severe, rashes appear all over the body, and symptoms such as swelling or redness of the skin, severe itching, dry skin, cracks, and scabs and scabs may be accompanied.
For this reason, various clinical studies of new mechanisms different from existing treatments are being conducted. As of September, there were 11 clinically approved items for atopic dermatitis treatment registered with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in Korea for the past three years. The most notable is the treatment using stem cells. Among them, the fastest is Kang Stem Biotech’s ‘Pure Stem-ADZoo’. Phase 3 clinical trials are underway with allogeneic cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells. This drug is a mechanism to restore impaired immune system homeostasis. Unlike conventional therapeutics that suppress immune antibodies, when stem cells are cultured and injected outside the body, they recognize inflammatory cytokines and antigens present in the inflammatory environment and secrete various immune modulators. Through this, it improves the symptoms of atopic dermatitis by regulating the activity of various types of immune cells involved in inducing atopic dermatitis.
According to Kangstem Biotech, the interim results of the long-term follow-up study of the first phase 3 clinical trial for atopic dermatitis, which ended in 2019, confirmed the safety and effectiveness up to 3 years of administration. In addition, no serious adverse events such as death or malignancy were confirmed until 3 years following administration of the test drug. The EASI-50 (50% improvement in Eczema Severity Index) was achieved at 58% (40 out of 69 patients) at 1 year, 66% (34 out of 50) at 2 years, and 75% (out of 52) at 3 years. 39 people).
SCM Life Science and EHL Bio are also developing a treatment for atopic dermatitis using stem cells. SCM Life Sciences is conducting a phase 2 clinical trial by culturing stem cells with its own original technology, while EHL Bio is developing a treatment for intravenous administration using adipose stem cells. Since stem cells are cells that are naturally present in our body, they have the advantage of regenerating damaged organs or tissues and having fewer side effects.
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