Our Business
iCM Project
We are developing a definitive therapy for severe heart failure patients with limited therapeutic options.
What is iCM
iCM is an iPS cell-derived cardiomyocyte created by a T-CiRA's project led by Dr. Yoshinori Yoshida, Associate Professor at CiRA, Kyoto University. The myocardial differentiation method, which has been studied at CiRA, has been further improved toward practical use by utilizing the cardiomyocytes purification method by small molecule compound discovered in the T-CiRA program. By transplanting iCMs, considered to be highly engraftable, pure, and safe cardiomyocytes, into the patient's heart, they are expected to replenish the cardiomyocytes lost as the disease progresses and promote remuscularization. Restoring the cardiac function of patients with severe heart failure, which has been considered difficult to treat, can be expected to improve the quality of life (QOL) and prognosis of these patients.
MD, PhD
Scientific Adviser
Associate Professor,
Center for iPS Cell Research
and Application (CiRA),
Kyoto University
Solution with iCM
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Achievement of both high productivity and high purity.
Mass production-friendly suspension culture system. Removal of non-cardiomyocytes that could induce adverse effects, such as arrhythmia and cancer risk. -
Stable supply to the people who need it when they need it.
Cryopreservable and off-the-shelf cell product -
Assisting cardiac function for a long period of time.
High efficacy can be achieved with our highly efficient engraftable cardiomyocytes beyond the current drug therapy.
Cardiomyocyte therapy requires the delivery of hundreds of millions of cardiomyocytes or more to patients.
To provide cell products to patients with severe heart failure who are awaiting treatment, it is necessary to develop cell manufacturing technologies that can efficiently produce large numbers of cells. One of the most important technologies is a culture technique in which cells are suspended in a medium and cultured. Since the early stage of development, we have been working on a method for cardiomyocyte differentiation using a suspension culture system, which has been considered difficult to obtain high-quality cardiomyocytes. In addition, we have discovered unique small molecule compounds that efficiently remove non-cardiomyocytes generated during cardiac differentiation. By combining these state-of-art technologies with the differentiation method for preparing highly engraftable cardiomyocytes found in CiRA, high-performance, safe iCMs can be produced with a simple differentiation process. iCMs are highly effective when administered as single cells, eliminating the need for sheet or aggregate reformation. In addition, iCM is suitable for a wide range of administration methods, including catheter administration, enabling minimally invasive treatment with less burden on the patient.
iPIC Project
We are developing a definitive therapy with iPS cell-derived pancreatic islet cells (iPICs) to brittle Type 1 diabetes patients as a replacement therapy for islet transplantation.
What is iPIC
iPICs are human iPS cell-derived pancreatic islet cells expected to be suitable for cell therapy. They were discovered after a five-year optimization study through T-CiRA based on the pancreatic cell differentiation method (Stem Cell Res. 2015;14:185-97) discovered by Dr. Taro Toyoda, Junior Associate Professor at CiRA. iPIC is an aggregate of high-purity pancreatic endocrine cells that contains both insulin and NKX6.1 positive cells, a characteristic of pancreatic β cells. After implantation in vivo, pancreatic islet-like structures containing glucagon positive cells, another important endocrine cell type, are formed, and physiological insulin-secreting capabilities can be demonstrated in response to glucose loading and hypoglycemia.
Maturation
in vivo
Center for iPS Cell Research
and Application (CiRA),
Kyoto University
Development of novel cell therapy product utilizing iPIC
To provide the novel treatment option to brittle Type 1 diabetes patients, we have established the original subcutaneous implantation method that supports the long-term engraftment of iPIC. So far, we have demonstrated proof-of-concept that implanted iPIC can treat diabetic rodents and pig models. High purity of expected endocrine cells, achieved by the combinatory approach of single-cell RNA sequencing-based transcriptomics and original compound-based purification, is one strength of our product. Fruitful collaboration with expertized equipment manufacturers enables us to yield billions of cells from one batch with a cell culture system optimized for iPIC. Now we are developing a product that can be supplied with the freeze-thaw tolerable iPIC for immediate use.
Solution with iPIC
islet-like cells (iPICs)
- Scalable culture process
- Homogeneous and stable quality
- High purity
- Pancreas islet-like morphology
- Physiological insulin secretion
- Less invasive and retrievable surgery
- Freedom from hypoglycemic events
- Independence of insulin injection
- Minimization of immunosuppress-ant use
Innovation
We will promote innovation in drug discovery research and development of regenerative medicine by utilizing cutting-edge iPS cell technology.
What is Platform Innovation
By utilizing the cutting-edge iPS cell technology and the related technologies that have been cultivated through the T-CiRA program, we will support the creation of innovative pharmaceutical products through new drug discovery approaches and develop infrastructures for regenerative medicine research to provide iPS cell products at a reasonable cost and stable supply.
Solutions provided by iPS cell utilization technology
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Consolidation of human resources who inherit the cutting-edge iPS cell utilization technology cultivated at T-CiRA
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Production and analysis technologies for a wide variety of iPS cell-derived cells and tissue organoids
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Support for drug discovery research utilizing iPS cell technology and development of regenerative medicine research platform
