The Promise of Regenerative Medicine
While research in MSC exosomes has made stellar progress in the last ten years, much needs to bedone to bring exosomes to market
Dr Lim Sai Kiang is a world-renowned scientist and entrepreneur, whose research on mesenchymalstem cell (MSC) exosomes has made significant contributions to the field of regenerative medicine.Founder of two biopharmaceutical A*STAR spin-offs, Dr Lim Sai Kiang’s business focus has been onexosomes for regenerative medicine and liposomes for skincare.
Under her leadership, one of the spin-offs adopted one of the Critical Quality Attribute (CQA) assaysto conduct a Singapore-approved phase 1 clinical trial on using exosomes for psoriasis. The otherspin-off has licensed proprietary technology to manufacture liposomes, a moisturiser for peoplewith dry and sensitive skin, at scale.
Despite her business successes, Dr Lim realises her passion still lies in research.
“I’m a scientist, not a business person,” says Dr Lim, Research Director of Exosome and SecretedNano-vesicles at A*STAR’s Institute of Molecular & Cell Biology (IMCB). She is also ranked as a HighlyCited Researcher and recognised as one of the world's most influential scientific minds in 2022.
Her research on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) exosomes is a labour of love she started more than10 years ago. Back then, no-one knew what MSC exosomes were. However, through rigorousscientific enquiry, Dr Lim and her team discovered that these non living cells, which could be derivedfrom any tissue in our body, were therapeutic.
Unlike stem cells, exosomes cannot replicate. This is good news because it means there is no chanceof them transforming into malignant cells.
“There is a lot of potential with MSC exosomes, and they have shown to be extremely effectiveacross a wide range of diseases,” says Dr Lim. “We are talking about everything from the heart to theskin. I’d say MSC exosomes can help almost every disease.”
One of the most significant advantages of MSC exosomes over stem cells is their inability toreplicate. This property is highly desirable, as it eliminates any risk of them turning into malignantcells, providing a safer option for regenerative medicine.
Still, there is a long way to go before MSC exosomes can be used in pharmaceutical products tobenefit patients.
“Our work on MSC exosomes continues, and there is much more work to be done.”
Dr Lim also participates in speaking opportunities to share her knowledge and passion. In March2023, Dr Lim spoke at a public workshop by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on advancedmanufacturing and analytic technologies in regenerative medicine therapies, where she sharedspecialised knowledge to FDA review staff and cell and gene therapy stakeholders. Her calendarcontinues to be filled with many such international engagements.
“I’ve been very involved in getting the global exosome community to agree on internationalmanufacturing standards. The process must be rigorous, and we meet to identify problems, takestock and work on the next steps,” Dr Lim shares.