Hyogo Medical University-launched venture company
技術シーズ
Amniotic Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are somatic stem cells present in the amniotic membrane that covers the amniotic fluid. They are considered promising cells for regenerative medicine, and research into their clinical application is ongoing.
The culture and preservation technology for amniotic membrane MSCs that we are currently commercializing was developed by our CEO, Kenichi Yamahara, and has produced the following research results, which have been patented.
1. A method for producing amniotic membrane MSCs using domestically produced bovine platelet lysate "NeoSERAⓇ" produced by Japan Biomedical Co., Ltd. (Patent No. 6212723, US-11085023-B2, AU2016356125, NZ757903)
②Development of amniotic membrane MSC preparations that can be transported on dry ice ( joint application with Kyokuto Pharmaceutical Industries Co., Ltd.: Patent No. 7072147 )
As part of clinical application research using amniotic MSCs, an investigator-initiated clinical trial has been started by a research group led by our CEO and Professor Kenichi Yamahara, Director of the Molecular and Cellular Therapy Department at the Institute of Advanced Medical Science, Hyogo College of Medicine.
This clinical research, conducted at Hyogo College of Medicine, is the world's first clinical trial using amniotic MSCs to treat acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and Crohn's disease, and is expected to lead to new treatments for these intractable diseases.
We are also conducting basic and clinical research on amniotic MSCs for intractable diseases other than acute GVHD and Crohn's disease in collaboration with various clinical and research departments at Hyogo College of Medicine and Osaka University.
As a venture spun out of Hyogo College of Medicine, in order to advance its business, the company will receive technical guidance from Hyogo College of Medicine on the manufacturing methods and clinical applications of amniotic membrane MSCs, and will proceed with development toward practical application.
Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Like the amniotic membrane, umbilical cord MSCs are somatic stem cells derived from fetal appendages, and many academic institutions and companies are conducting research into their clinical application.
We are also conducting basic research on umbilical cord MSCs, led by our director Toshihiro Soma, and have succeeded in obtaining large amounts of umbilical cord MSCs from primary culture. By combining this with amniotic membrane MSC culture and preservation technology, we are creating an umbilical cord MSC preparation with high production efficiency.
Angiogenesis-inducing Cells (AiC)
We have found that by co-culturing umbilical cord blood with OP9 feeder cells, which are used to induce differentiation of blood cells and vascular cells from ES/iPS cells, for 18-24 hours, a rich network is formed on Matrigel (patent pending). In this change, we have confirmed that M2 macrophages are predominantly increased, and in cell transplantation in a mouse cerebral infarction model, we have confirmed their angiogenic effect and attenuation of the aftereffects of cerebral infarction, so we have named them Angiogenesis-inducing Cells (AiC).
Because this change is observed not only in umbilical cord blood, but also in bone marrow and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, we are conducting various studies together with the Department of Neurosurgery at the Institute of Advanced Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, with the aim of applying this technique to the treatment of a variety of ischemic diseases, both autologous and allogeneic.