South Korea has administered its first approved advanced regenerative therapy to a patient. Starting with this first case, the government plans to gradually widen access to such treatments while ensuring safety, so that patients with severe, rare and intractable diseases can gain new treatment options.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Health and Welfare Minister Jung Eun-kyeong (pictured) visited Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital of the Catholic University of Korea on Sept. 22 to review progress on the country's first advanced regenerative therapy and to meet the first enrolled patient and the medical team. It is the first case in which an approved therapy has been given to an actual patient since the advanced regenerative medicine treatment system was introduced in February last year.
The therapy targets patients with EBV-positive extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma who have reached complete remission, meaning no trace of cancer is detected after chemotherapy, but who face a high risk of relapse. EBV, or Epstein-Barr virus, is a type of herpesvirus that remains latent in the body after infection and is known to be linked to certain cancers, including some lymphomas and nasopharyngeal cancer. The treatment uses EBV antigen-specific immune cells derived from the patient to prevent the cancer from returning and to support long-term survival.
The therapy is delivered by intravenous infusion of autologous EBV-specific T cells. Patients receive one dose a week for four weeks, take a four-week break, then receive one dose a week for another four weeks, for a total of eight treatments over 12 weeks. Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital serves as the treatment institution, with Professor Jun Young-woo of the hematology department leading the care. Up to 15 patients are eligible.
The minister reviewed the hospital's safety management system and treatment preparations, then met the first enrolled patient to hear about the experience and any difficulties during the process. Jung also met the researchers and medical staff who developed the therapy and carried out the treatment to hear their views from the field.
"Advanced regenerative therapy will offer a new treatment opportunity for patients suffering from severe, rare and intractable diseases," Jung said. "I find it very meaningful that this first treatment can serve as a means to prevent relapse in patients with a rare blood cancer." Jung added, "We will continue to improve the relevant system and provide support so that we can expand patients' access to treatment while securing the safety of the therapy."
