150 billion’jackpot’ with NK cell technology… Scientists reaping one stone and three trillions[과학을 읽다]

[아시아경제 김봉수 기자] “A young scientist invents a breakthrough science and technology that has a huge impact on mankind. Thanks to him, he makes a huge amount of money with his fame, and he makes a’jackpot’ of his life.”

After science and technology began to influence the destiny of mankind, it is the path of the newly settled yangmyeong. In TV dramas and movies, there are many works in which these people are the main characters. A representative example is the recently popular ‘Sea Jeep’ (photo) starring Jo Seung-woo. The protagonist invents the time machine technology to become a national star and at the same time accumulates astronomical wealth to live in a prestigious mansion and ride a supercar. People are enthusiastic, and you and I want to live that kind of life. However, even in reality, such a’life jackpot’ often pops up.

Choi In-pyo (pictured below), who recently developed a technology to differentiate and mass proliferate NK (Natural Killer) cells, an autoimmune with excellent cancer healing effects from hematopoietic stem cells, is a representative example of the Ph.D. team at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Immunotherapy Research Center.

NK cells are immune cells that make up about 10% of the body’s blood immune cells. It is a representative anti-cancer immune cell that kills cancer cells at the forefront without any other stimulation. When administered to cancer patients, they attack cancer cells without self-proliferation and then slowly disappear, and unlike other immune cell therapy T cells, which have side effects due to self-proliferation, there are few side effects. It is also possible to administer it to others.

Thanks to this, the treatment cost is reduced and the effect is excellent. Dr. Choi’s team conducted a clinical study on patients with refractory leukemia in collaboration with Professor Gyu-Hyung Lee’s team at Asan Hospital in Seoul, and the patient survival rate was 40%, which was more than three times that of the control group. It can be used for immunotherapy such as refractory leukemia and lung cancer, and is expected to be applied to solid cancer (cancer that occurs in specific organs) such as lung cancer in the future.

The problem is that mass production of NK cells is difficult. It was difficult to mass-produce with a general culture method. Therefore, in the bio industry, both you and I are jumping into technology research for mass production of NK cells. Recently, GC Green Cross Lab Cell obtained a patent for discovering a technology that increases the productivity of NK cells through mass cultivation using a bioreactor (bioreactor).

The market cheered when such a’big technology’ came out as a result of the research conducted by Life Institute. The live performance recently received a lump sum (fixed technology fee) of 9.5 billion won and an additional 145 billion won depending on the sales amount, and this technology was sold to a private company. It is possible to earn a total of 154.5 billion won. NK cell mass production technology will be put into practical use after a commercial clinical trial within this year, and cancer patients can now be supplied with effective and inexpensive treatments.

Of course, the results of this study are the fruit of public investment, so Dr. Choi’s team cannot be monopolized. This research received stable support for a long period of time through the National Science and Technology Research Association (NST)’s Immunotherapy (CiM) Convergence Research Group project, the Ministry of Science and Technology Information and Communication and the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s national research and development projects, and life-related organizations’ own projects. This is the research achievement achieved. Therefore, it is known that most of the profits will be returned to the national treasury, and Dr. Choi’s team will only receive incentives.

How is it. Dr. Choi’s team provided a basis for solving humanity’s long-standing challenge of overcoming cancer, and generated enormous local profits. Along with fame, I must have taken great incentives. It is one stone three-jo (一石三鳥). Aren’t they wonderful and proud of them, who have achieved the aspirations they dreamed of becoming scientists from childhood?

Reporter Kim Bong-soo [email protected]