April 11 marks International Parkinson's Disease Day. Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder, often termed the "Silent Chronic Disease," quietly affecting an increasing number of lives. Data indicate that by 2040, the total number of patients is expected to exceed 12 million, making it one of the fastest-growing neurological diseases globally. In China, with the acceleration of population aging, the number of PD patients is rising rapidly. Currently, approximately 4 million patients in China are battling this disease.

On the occasion of International Parkinson's Disease Day, Ms. Shen, the first Chinese recipient of UniXell Bio's autologous stem cell-derived drug UX-DA001, participated in a public science event at Ruijin Hospital, sharing her recovery progress one month post-surgery. "After the stem cell therapy, my most notable improvement is in sleep quality—I fall asleep quickly and notice subtle daily progress. Though full recovery takes time, the 'day-by-day improvement' fills me with hope," said Ms. Shen. Her optimism and perseverance deeply moved the audience, and the on-site discussions vividly showcased the transformative potential of this innovative therapy.

Dr. Liu Jun, Director of Neurology at Ruijin Hospital, explained that current PD treatments primarily rely on medications like levodopa to replenish dopamine or anticholinergics and dopamine agonists to alleviate symptoms. However, after 5 years of drug therapy, efficacy fluctuations often occur, and disease progression remains unchecked. For some patients, deep brain stimulation (DBS) can moderately improve motor symptoms by implanting electrodes to modulate brain activity, but it requires long-term parameter adjustments, and efficacy may decline over time.

On March 1, 2025, Professor Chen Yuejun, founder of UniXell Bio, and Dr. Li Dianyou, Director of Functional Neurosurgery at Ruijin Hospital, meticulously planned the surgical approach based on preoperative imaging for the first patient. Dr. Li's team then successfully performed the minimally invasive "Autologous iPSC-Derived Cell Therapy UX-DA001 for Parkinson's Disease" procedure. This milestone marked the official launch of China's first registered clinical-grade autologous iPSC-derived cell therapy for PD.

The UX-DA001 injection, independently developed by UniXell Bio, is an autologous iPSC-derived neural precursor cell drug. It is prepared by reprogramming the patient's peripheral blood cells and differentiating them in vitro. The dopamine-producing neural precursor cells are then transplanted into the brain via minimally invasive surgery, eliminating the need for immunosuppressants and reducing immune-related risks. UX-DA001 aims to reconstruct damaged neural networks in PD patients, restoring both motor and non-motor functions to improve quality of life.

According to Dr. Li Dianyou, the transplanted cells will mature over 3–6 months, integrating with existing neural networks to dynamically regulate dopamine release under physiological conditions. Compared to traditional drugs, this "cell replacement" therapy holds potential for functional cure.

DA001 is UniXell Bio's innovative cell therapy for PD, leveraging its proprietary platforms (high-throughput stem cell differentiation tracing, efficient neural differentiation, and iPSC reprogramming) to derive high-purity, stable, and functional midbrain dopamine neural precursors from patient-derived stem cells. These cells are quality-controlled and injected to remodel neural circuits via targeted minimally invasive implantation, aiming for functional cure.

The successful trial and positive recovery feedback signify a pivotal step in clinical translation of stem cell therapy for neurodegenerative diseases. It also galvanizes UniXell Bio's team to advance this cutting-edge medical approach, offering tangible hope to patients and bridging innovative science with public health.