On June 5, 2018, the Stem Cell Institute, University of Natural Sciences, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City signed a contract to transfer technology to produce Cartilatist stem cell products to Van Hanh General Hospital. Cartilatist is a stem cell product used in the treatment of degenerative joint diseases and spinal discs. This is the first stem cell product researched, developed and produced by Vietnam.

Stem cells have great potential in the treatment of diseases, especially degenerative diseases. Recent studies have confirmed the effectiveness of stem cells in the treatment of degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease. Stem cell "drug" is the latest generation of stem cell products for therapeutic applications. Marking the birth of stem cell "drug" is the product "drug" of stem cells Prochymal (made in Canada) (applied in the treatment of graft-versus-host disease) and Cartistem (made in Korea). osteoarthritis); Up to now, about 10 stem cell "medicine" products have been licensed for circulation and application in humans worldwide.

Grasping that trend, in 2012, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Phuc and the research team began to conduct research on the production technology of Cartilatist products. By 2016, Cartilatist products had completed the research and manufacturing phase and moved to the quality assessment stage.

Cartilatist is a product containing live, frozen stem cells. Researched with special technologies, the product can be stored for a long time in the freezer, the product can be defrosted and injected immediately into the patient's joints or discs without any extra work. any.

Technology is exclusively transferred to Van Hanh General Hospital for 10 years. According to the plan, the product will be mass-produced in 2019, clinical evaluation in 2020-2021.

The success of Cartilatist will mark a breakthrough for Vietnam's stem cell industry.