Tag: mental-health
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Trends of Gene Therapy Clinical Trials
Ting-En HuangSchool of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan Introduction Q1 2026 marked a slower period for regulatory approvals across gene, cell, and RNA therapies, alongside a growing emphasis on evidence-based development and de-risking. As of 2026 Q1, 40 gene therapies, 37 RNA therapies, and 75 non-genetically modified cell therapies had received…
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From Pluripotency to Patients: Current Progress in iPSC-Based Clinical Trials
Pei-Ru Jhuang Ph.D.(c) & Tzu-Tang Wei Ph.D.Department and Graduate Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan Introduction Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were first generated from mouse cells in 2006 and human cells in 2007 by reprogramming differentiated somatic cells back to a pluripotent state [1, 2]. Because iPSCs can proliferate…
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AMCHEPRY®: The First iPSC-Derived Cell Therapy Marks a New Era of Regenerative Medicine for Parkinson’s Disease
Tzu-Yu Chen & Thai-Yen Ling, Ph.D.Department and Graduate Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan Introduction Since the development of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology by Yamanaka and colleagues in 2006, regenerative medicine has undergone a remarkable transformation. Unlike embryonic stem cells, iPSCs are generated by reprogramming adult somatic cells…
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Beginning with the End in Mind, the Journey of Mesenchymal Stem/stromal Cell Therapy Product Development
Ching-Huai Ko1, Feng-Cheng Chou2 & Ling-Mei Wang31 President and CEO, Steminent Biotherapeutics Inc.2 Senior manager, Business development division, Steminent Biotherapeutics Inc.3 Chairperson and Chief Strategy Officer, Steminent Biotherapeutics Inc. Abstract Background: Cell therapy products are living drugs that serve as alternative therapeutic strategies for various unmet medical needs, including cancers, tissue degeneration, and immune dysregulations. To achieve global success,…
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From First Responders to Tumor Accomplices: The Plasticity of Neutrophils in Cancer
D. Renovaldi, M.Sc.Editorial Office, The ACTO TimesInternational PhD Program in Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan Abstract Neutrophils are traditionally portrayed as short-lived innate immune cells that rapidly migrate to sites of infection or tissue injury. Cancer, however, can appropriate these emergency-response programs for its own benefit. Tumor-derived signals alter granulopoiesis, neutrophil maturation, trafficking, lifespan, and…
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Oxidative stress-driven metabolic reprogramming failure in MERRF patient’s iPSC-derived neurons: from neurodevelopmental deficits to novel therapies
Yu-Ting Wu, Ph.D. & Yau-Huei Wei, Ph.D.Center for Mitochondrial Medicine and Free Radical ResearchChanghua Christian Hospital, Changhua City, Taiwan Abstract Background: Myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers (MERRF) syndrome is one of the severe mitochondrial encephalomyopathies, which are characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction and excess production of the reactive oxygen species (ROS). During neurogenesis, neural progenitor cells must…
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Cell and gene therapy in Vietnam: between scientific momentum and regulatory maturation
Duy-Cuong Le, MD, Ph.D.Laboratory, Vinmec Riverside, Vinmec Healthcare System, VietnamCollege of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, Hanoi, Vietnam Introduction Cell and gene therapy (CGT) is reshaping modern medicine by enabling interventions at the level of cellular function and genetic programming. From hematologic malignancies to rare inherited disorders, these therapies have shifted from experimental promise to clinical reality…
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The university perspective in cell & gene therapy in Indonesia: landscape, challenges, progress, and a strategic vision for breakthrough
Ova Emilia, MD, Ph.D., Dian K. Nurputra, MD, Ph.D., & Rusdy Ghazali Malueka, MD, Ph.D.Univesitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia Introduction: A Nation at the Inflection Point As the ACTO Annual Meeting 2026 convenes in Jakarta, a fitting recognition of Indonesia’s growing prominence in the Asian cellular therapy landscape, the country finds itself at a defining…
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Regulation of Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) in Indonesia: Perspective of BPOM
D. Renovaldi, M.ScInternational Ph.D Program in Medicine, Taipei Medical University Introduction Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) represents a rapidly advancing field in biomedical science, offering innovative treatment strategies for diseases that were previously difficult or impossible to treat. These therapies involve the modification or administration of living cells or genetic material to restore normal biological…
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Ushering in a new regulatory era for regenerative medicine in Taiwan
Dr. Chih-Kang Chiang, MD., Ph.D.Director-GeneralTaiwan Food and Drug AdministrationMinistry of Health and WelfareTaiwan Due to rapid development of biotechnology in recent years, the field of regenerative medicine has attracted considerable attention. Regenerative medicine related regulations have been established in several countries to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of innovative treatments. Considering the diversity of…
