A new treatment for dementia developed by domestic researchers will likely be commercialized.

Gyeongsang National University said on Monday that a research team led by Professor Kim Myung-ok, who developed the treatment, will sign an agreement on Tuesday on a technology transfer with the Korea Pharma Company.

The university said that when tested on laboratory mice, the substance was confirmed to have effects of protecting nerve cells in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, noting that the new substance is a natural protein harmless to the human body.

The university said that the research team, which has so far only conducted animal tests, plans to conduct joint research on humans with Korea Pharma over the next five years.

It added that the team has already registered a domestic patent and made an application to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), to have a patent recognized in other countries.