News
Tech Transfer with Dong-A ST (2019.12.12)
- Date : 2020-02-26
- Views : 1333
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International Cooperation Team
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Tech Transfer with Dong-A ST
On December 11,
KIST (President: Dr. Byung Gwon Lee) and Dong-A ST (CEO: Mr. Daesik Eom) signed
a technology transfer and joint research agreement regarding the development of
cures for dementia.
As part of this
agreement, the head of KIST’s Convergence Research Center for Dementia DTC, Dr.
Ae Nim Pae, announced a joint research plan with Dong-A ST for the development
of globally competitive new cures for dementia through the transfer of
technology related to “Developing a Tau Protein Cohesion-Based Dementia
Treatment.”
KIST researchers
focused on the closer correlation between the decrease in cognitive function
and cohesion of Tau proteins, as compared to cohesion of the beta amyloid,
which is a well-known factor affecting the development of dementia. As the
academy’s interest in cohesion of Tau proteins has been rising, this agreement
symbolizes the possibility for the pioneering and competitive development of
new cures for dementia.
Dr. Pae’s team
independently developed the “Tau-BiFC (Tau-Bimolecular Fluorescence
Complementation)” technology with Dr. Yun Kyung Kim, Dr. Sang Min Lim, and Dr.
Sungsu Lim, which can monitor Tau Protein cohesion in its early stages, and
applied this technology to mice cell models.
In addition, the researchers applied this technology to various experiments, leading to the discovery of Tau Protein agglomerated substances and identification of outstanding effects in terms of efficacy and toxicity compared to existing materials. The newly discovered Tau protein coagulated target material also showed outstanding cognitive improvement in genetically modified animal models with dementia.
Going forward, through joint research and development, these two partners aim to conduct non-clinical tests in the near future, and arrange measures to maximize the value of any new drugs that are discovered as treatments for dementia on a global scale.
The down payment for the technology transfer is KRW 1 billion, with milestones set based on development and clinical progress as per the agreement.
The Convergence
Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment, and Care System of Dementia at KIST
is comprised of researchers from government-funded research institutes under
the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST), who have been
selected for the purpose of developing integrated solutions for dementia. Over
the past four years of conducting research, the center has positioned itself to
take a big step forward in the development of new cures for dementia.