Nature Cell to Seek FDA Guidance on JointStem for Severe Osteoarthritis

Key Insights

• Nature Cell plans to request a meeting with the FDA in January to discuss the commercialization of JointStem for severe degenerative arthritis.
• JointStem, a stem cell therapy, has been granted RMAT designation by the FDA, potentially expediting its approval process.
• The company will present Phase 3 clinical trial data demonstrating cartilage regeneration via MRI, showcasing JointStem's superiority over standard treatments.

Nature Cell, a Korean biotech firm, announced its intention to request a meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January to facilitate the commercialization of its stem cell therapy, JointStem, for the treatment of severe degenerative arthritis. JointStem is currently undergoing Phase 2b/3a clinical trials in the United States.

RMAT Designation and Expedited Approval

On October 22, the FDA designated JointStem as a regenerative medicine advanced therapy (RMAT). This designation allows the therapy to qualify for the FDA’s expedited approval program, offering opportunities for prior consultation and guidance to streamline the commercialization process. Nature Cell plans to conduct the meeting in February, following its application in January.

Clinical Data and Cartilage Regeneration

To bolster the impact of the meeting, Nature Cell intends to present newly acquired Phase 3 clinical trial data demonstrating cartilage regeneration through MRI imaging. According to the company, the data reveals a significant improvement over baseline and the control group, affirming JointStem’s superiority compared to standard of care therapies.

Management Perspective

Ra Jeong-chan, CEO of Nature Cell, stated, "Through this RMAT meeting, we plan to receive advice on the pivotal study in the U.S., which will accelerate the process for obtaining drug approval for JointStem in the U.S. market."