Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Science and Technology cooperated set up an innovative derivative company. On October 30, the establishment ceremony of a new derivative company was held at Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, and a press conference was held to announce the world’s first new medicine for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. . The event was hosted by Shin-Shiong Chang, Chairman of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology and President Deng-Maw. They invited Chairman Wei-Kang Zhan of Allianz Pharmascience Co., Ltd; Director Chiu-Hui Chiu of the Department of Industry and Education, the Ministry of Science and Technology; and Director Da-Sheng Li of the Center for Industry, Education and Research, the Ministry of Science and Technology. All the guests responded with enthusiasm and showed great expectations for the research and development results.

【Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology established a new derivative company, which introduced a new medicine for Alzheimer's disease in a press conference to all the invited guests.】

The "Alzheimer's New Medicine Development" program, chaired by Prof. Yi-Ren Su of the Department of Biotechnology at the Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, received a NT$20 million grant from the Ministry of Science and Technology's New State-of-the-Art Research and Development Linkage Project. The efficacy and mechanism of the medicine have been completed over the past year, together with its pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, toxicology experiments, and animal experiments. Having been confirmed to be effective for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, the medicine has the opportunity to become a certified one for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. On September 26, 2018, the Ministry of Science and Technology reviewed and recommended the establishment of a derivative startup company, which was the second among the 27 production and research linkage projects that passed in 2017, as well as the first in the biotechnology and medicine category to have successfully established a team of startups.

【Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology established a new derivative company. All the invited guests and school executives (from left to right), Prof. Yi-Ren of the Department of Biotechnology, Director Chiu-Hui Chiu of the Department of Industry and Education (MST), President Deng-Maw Lu of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Chairman Wei-Kang Zhan of Allianz Pharmascience Limited, Vice President Ming-Tsai Lai of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, and Director Da-Sheng Li of the Center for Industry, Education and Research (MTS).】

In recent years, study results have shown that the causes of Alzheimer's disease are extremely complicated. At present, the medicines developed by other teams in the world can only improve one single pathogenic mechanism, resulting in repeated failures of their developments. Prof. Yi-Ren Su's medicine has been targeted at inhibiting beta-amyloid and APP synthesis, enhancing apoprotein Apo E, anti-inflammatory, autophagy, and anti-oxidation that are associated with Alzheimer's disease. The pathogenic mechanism, in order to achieve the therapeutic effect, is the most unique multi-targeted medicine in the global anti-Alzheimer development. it is the most likely the first successful one, the medicine has drawn great attention from medical experts and investors at home and abroad. Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology has established a new startup derivative company through its research and development. On October 10, 2018, it established Merry Life Medical Co., Ltd.” and has raised more than NT$100 million. The new company will go to the United States to apply for Investigational New Drug (IND) and enter the international arena. If it proves to be successful, the business opportunity is estimated to be more than $10 billion per year. In addition to contributing to the most urgent Alzheimer's disease problem in the world, the company is expected to become a Biotech unicorn.

【President Deng-Maw Lu of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology was delivering a speech.】

Since 2010, the team of Prof. Yi-Ren Su has started the development of a biomarker platform for Alzheimer's disease, looking for the right medicine for Alzheimer's disease. Over the years, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology has been properly employing the grants from the Ministry of Education—The Plan for Developing Technological University Paradigms and Higher Education Sprout Project—a total of NT$6.87 million to support this research. In 2014, this platform was used to screen 15 patented small molecule compounds of curcuma derivatives before candidate drugs were selected. After experimental experiments with mice, it proved to be effective. In 2017, the team received funding support from the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the progress in developing the new medicine saw a breakthrough. At present, animal experiments have been proven to be effective. In the future, the new company will continue to conduct human experiments. If it proves effective, it will become the world's first medicine for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and benefit countless human beings.

【Prof. Yi-Ren Su of the Department of Biotechnology, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, was presenting the results of AD Development.】

Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology will participate in Merry Life Medical Co., Ltd." for its ownership technology, holding technology shares with NT$13.44 million. President Deng-Maw Lu said that Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology is positioning itself as a "university of science and technology as the best partner of the industry," with an environment with seamless strength for production, learning, and creative improvement in industrial technology, breaking through technological bottlenecks, innovating research and development, assisting industrial development, fully utilizing human resources of teachers and students, engaging in industry-university cooperation and technology promotion. The income of its industry-university cooperation in the 106 academic years has reached NT$234.20, with 8 derivative companies showing the school's long-term development for its three innovations to encourage teachers and students to work on innovation and start a bright future.

【Chiu-Hui Chiu, Director of the Department of Industry and Education, the Ministry of Science and Technology, was delivering a speech.】