KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 — A Malaysian medical group specialising in regenerative therapy has been internationally recognised for helping patients regain their sight using umbilical cord-derived stem cells, a development that could mark a turning point in treating inherited blindness.
23 Century Medical Group was named “Stem Cell Therapy Centre for Vision Restoration of the Year (Malaysia)” at the GlobalHealth Asia-Pacific Awards 2025, recently held in Bangkok, Thailand.
The recognition comes in light of the group’s early clinical success using Wharton’s Jelly-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (WJ-MSC) in patients with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare degenerative eye condition that leads to blindness and currently has no cure.
In a small proof‑of‑concept study at the Kuala Lumpur centre, a patient who received 10 million umbilical cord stem cells under each eye regained vision and could read text again for the first time in years.
Follow‑up imaging suggested possible regeneration of photoreceptor tissue, with no adverse effects at 12 months.
“This recognition affirms that Malaysia is not only keeping pace, but in some areas leading the way in regenerative health care,” said Dr Angelina Tiah, CEO and Chief Scientist at 23 Century Medical Group.
“We’ve shown that with the right science, infrastructure, and ethics, we can safely move from lab research to real-life healing, even for conditions once considered untreatable.”
Held annually, the GlobalHealth Asia-Pacific Awards celebrate excellence in patient care and medical innovation across the region. This year marked the 10th edition of the event, attended by industry leaders such as IJN, KPJ Healthcare, and IHH Healthcare Group.
Dr Tiah added that 23 Century’s approach combines stem cell manufacturing, clinical-grade quality control, and Shariah-compliant practices, all under one roof in their KL-based facility certified by Malaysia’s NPRA and aligned with PIC/S standards.
“The therapy isn’t just cutting-edge, it’s local. We’re proud that this breakthrough is made in Malaysia, for Malaysians and beyond,” said Dr David Mah, managing director of 23 Century.
“This award inspires us to continue expanding across Southeast Asia, building partnerships that can bring these therapies to more people who need them.”
23 Century continues to champion a future where cellular therapy is safe, accessible, and effective, ushering in a new paradigm in patient care and treatment of refractory diseases.
With its latest recognition, the Group is gearing up to expand its clinical reach and collaborative efforts to ensure patients across ASEAN benefit from its proprietary therapies and regenerative science.
