Rokit Healthcare, a leading company specializing in organ regeneration (CEO: You Seok-Hwan), announced on the 9th that it successfully concluded the ‘Advanced Bio Forum on Regenerative Medicine’ at the Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul on the 31st. This event was held as a special forum of the Seoul Forum 2023 under the theme, “The Core of Healthcare, Economy, and Security: Opening the Era of Advanced Biotechnology.” The forum brought together domestic and international experts in regenerative medicine and advanced biotechnology to share the latest technologies and trends in the bio market and discuss the development direction of Korea’s advanced bio industry.

The forum was attended by Dr. Kim Ji-Hee, CTO and Head of the Skin Regeneration SBU at Rokit Healthcare; Professor Jeffrey Glenn from Stanford University School of Medicine; Um Min-Yong, Senior Researcher in the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology Division at Hyundai Motor Securities; Professor Kwon Soon-Yong, Honorary President of the Korean Society of Medical 3D Printing; Professor Park Ji-Man from Seoul National University School of Dentistry; and Eun Sung-Ho, Director of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Professor Jeffrey Glenn analyzed that his research demonstrated the potential for cell replacement and regenerative medicine therapies to accelerate the development of safe drugs using artificially engineered human liver tissue. He also showed through various studies that bioprinting is a technology of the future.

Dr. Kim Ji-Hee, CTO and Head of the Skin Regeneration SBU at Rokit Healthcare, presented advanced technologies for regenerating human organs such as skin, cartilage, and kidneys using artificial intelligence (AI) and bioprinting in medical practice. Rokit Healthcare holds patented technology that combines AI and bioprinting to provide personalized regenerative treatments for chronic conditions like diabetic foot ulcers (hereinafter referred to as ‘diabetic foot’).

Dr. Kim introduced this technology as a next-generation treatment method that uses a self-developed AI application to easily create files for 3D bioprinting. It utilizes the patient’s own adipose tissue, processed with minimal manipulation and without additional culturing, to create bioink. This bioink is then used to produce a regenerative patch through a 3D bioprinter that accurately matches the shape and size of the lesion.

The entire procedure is completed within 40 to 50 minutes in the operating room, and it is emphasized that more than 80% treatment efficacy is achieved within three months after the procedure. A company representative stated, “This technology has the potential to treat 140 million diabetic foot patients worldwide each year and save about 10 trillion won in medical costs.” The representative added, “We have conducted clinical trials in five countries globally, published papers in international journals, and realized commercialization.”

Diabetic foot is one of the most common complications of diabetes, with a treatment rate of less than 30% due to complex causes, and it is a chronic condition with a very high risk of foot amputation. The mortality rate within five years for patients who undergo foot amputation approaches 50%, which is lower than the survival rate for some cancers. Therefore, it is crucial to prevent foot amputation by quickly treating the lesions in diabetic foot patients. Diabetic foot treatment is known to be a difficult disease, with annual medical costs reaching tens of millions of won, including both national healthcare expenses and individual payments.

Rokit Healthcare’s hyper-personalized regenerative medical technology is a treatment method that can prevent foot amputation in diabetic foot patients. The company explained that this technology is expected to not only provide fast treatment and high-quality regeneration but also reduce the financial burden on patients and national healthcare costs.

Professor Kwon Soon-Yong, the Honorary President of the Korean Society of Medical 3D Printing and an orthopedic surgeon at Catholic University, who chaired the discussion, stated, “If Rokit’s regenerative treatment for diabetic foot had been commercialized earlier, I might not have had to amputate the feet of diabetic foot patients in my medical practice.” He emphasized the need for regulatory innovation to quickly commercialize such innovative new medical technologies in Korea.

Eun Sung-Ho, Director of the Advanced Regenerative Medicine Support Division at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, also pointed out that K-Biohealth has been identified as the most promising sector in Korea, as announced by President Yoon Suk-Yeol on February 28th. He added that the Ministry of Health and Welfare, along with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, is also promoting regulatory relaxation and procedural simplification in the advanced bio field.

Lee Wol-Sook, Director of the New Medical Technology Evaluation Industry Division at the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, who attended as an audience member, emphasized that they improved the evaluation procedures for innovative medical technology in 2022 and are fast-tracking the process for technologies that demonstrate efficacy and potential.

Rokit Healthcare CEO You Seok-Hwan said, “We are pleased to have presented a model for the commercialization of advanced biotechnology and to have contributed to the development of Korea’s advanced bio industry through the successful conclusion of this forum.” He added, “Advanced biotechnology will play an important role in improving human health and enhancing the quality of life.” He further commented, “Rokit Healthcare will create a healthy future with its fusion technology of AI and bioprinting for organ regeneration.