The development of mesenchymal stem cell research by Meridigen Biotech Co. Ltd. had good news. Yogi Hsuan, the general manager of Meridigen, indicated that the new biomarker EphA2 used to identify mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) had been discovered. Further, it had been used to develop new stem cell drugs. The potential licensing fee of EphA2 development was estimated to 1.6 billion U.S. dollars.

Yogi Hsuan indicated that fibroblasts were hard to be identified and separated with MSC during the process of separating and incubating MSC, leading to more difficulties to new stem cell drug development. The EphA2 could be used to identify MSC accurately.

Willie Lin, the Chief Executive Officer of Meridigen, indicated that the cost and schedule of new stem cell drug development could be shortened to 2/3 by the using of EphA2 as a biomarker to identify stem cells. Three new drugs for the treatment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), cerebral palsy (C.P) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had been put into development. The new drug for the treatment of BPD was estimated to enter the phase I clinical trial in 2018.

Willie Lin also indicated that the biomarker EphA2 was discovered two years ago. It was showed that the biomarker EphA2 was the key factor to regulate the ability of immunology in MSCs in the in vitro analysis. Patent application in the U.S., Taiwan and PCT of the biomarker had been applied.
Further, Yogi Husan indicated that according to the report of Nature Review Journal, the potential marketing of stem cell treatment was estimated to 80 billion US dollars worldwide. The rate of licensing fee was between 2% to 10% in the pharmaceutical industry in the U.S. The licensing fee of the patent application about the biomarker EphA2 would be about 1.6 billion US dollars in the future.

Published in Commercial Times, Dec. 18 2015