Kadimastem Secures Hong Kong Patent for IsletRx Stem Cell Diabetes Therapy
Key Insights
Kadimastem (search) has been granted a Hong Kong patent covering its proprietary cell selection and enrichment technology for IsletRx (search), a stem cell-derived therapy candidate intended to treat and potentially cure insulin-dependent diabetes (search).
The Hong Kong patent adds to previously granted patents in Europe, the United States and India, strengthening global intellectual property protection for the IsletRx (search) platform.
Hong Kong represents a significant diabetes (search) market with approximately 706,000 adults living with diabetes, representing an 8.2% prevalence and potential economic impact of $90 billion.
NLS Pharmaceutics Ltd. (Nasdaq: NLSP) announced that its merger partner Kadimastem (search) Ltd. (TASE: KDST) has been granted a patent by the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department covering Kadimastem's proprietary cell selection and enrichment technology used in the development of IsletRx (search), a stem cell-derived therapy candidate intended to treat and potentially cure insulin-dependent diabetes (search).
Expanding Global Patent Portfolio
According to Kadimastem (search), the Hong Kong patent adds to previously granted patents in Europe, the United States and India, further strengthening the global protection around IsletRx (search). The patented process enables the selection and enrichment of highly functional islet cells from differentiated cell populations to help maximize therapeutic effect.
"We congratulate Kadimastem (search) on this important intellectual property (IP) milestone," said Alexander Zwyer, Chief Executive Officer of NLS Pharmaceutics. "Expanding protection into Hong Kong—a key life-sciences hub in Asia—supports the long-term strategy for IsletRx (search) and Kadimastem's broader diabetes (search) program. With hundreds of millions of people worldwide living with diabetes, continued progress on strong, defensible intellectual property is essential as Kadimastem works toward clinical development and future patient access."
Ronen Twito, Executive Chairman and CEO of Kadimastem (search), commented: "This additional patent approval in Hong Kong is an important milestone in strengthening our global IP portfolio for IsletRx (search). We believe that each new territory where IP protection is secured further validates the uniqueness of our technology and provides important protection as we advance toward clinical development. Diabetes (search) is a global challenge, and this patent reinforces our long-term strategy to bring a potentially curative cell therapy to patients worldwide."
Significant Market Opportunity in Hong Kong
Diabetes (search) represents a significant and growing health and economic burden in Hong Kong. The International Diabetes Federation estimated in 2024 that approximately 706,000 adults in Hong Kong are living with diabetes, representing an 8.2% prevalence among the adult population. This figure is supported by the Hong Kong Department of Health's 2020-2022 Population Health Survey, which found an 8.5% prevalence of diabetes or raised blood glucose among individuals aged 15-84.
The economic impact is substantial, with lifetime healthcare expenditures for individuals diagnosed with diabetes (search) averaging $125,000 per patient in 2017. Applied to Hong Kong's adult diabetes population, this represents a potential economic impact of approximately $90 billion.
IsletRx Technology Platform
Kadimastem (search)'s IsletRx (search) platform aims to provide a scalable, stem cell-derived source of insulin-producing islet-like cells capable of secreting insulin and glucagon in response to glucose levels. The program is designed to address key challenges in diabetes (search) care by supplying functional endocrine cells for transplant.
Hong Kong represents a meaningful diabetes (search) market and a critical gateway into Mainland China—including the Greater Bay Area—supporting future clinical collaboration, partnering and commercialization paths for IsletRx (search).
About the Companies
NLS Pharmaceutics Ltd. is a Swiss-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative therapies for central nervous system disorders and related indications. Kadimastem (search) Ltd. is a clinical-stage cell therapy company developing allogeneic, "off-the-shelf" cell products for neurodegenerative diseases and diabetes (search).