CellSeed advances innovative regenerative therapy
CellSeed’s regenerative medicine product candidates are founded on cell sheet engineering developed by Professor Teruo Okano at Tokyo Women’s Medical University
Country Business Reports interviews and articles by Discovery Reports www.discoveryreports.com
First-to-market with breakthrough technology forming cultured cells into sheet-like clusters that naturally graft to living cells, CellSeed is advancing new therapies for oesophageal and knee cartilage regeneration.
Once approved, regenerative medicine products could improve patients’ quality of life and reduce disability caused by chronic diseases.
CellSeed’s regenerative medicine product candidates are founded on cell sheet engineering developed by professor Teruo Okano at Tokyo Women’s Medical University. This next-generation technology makes it possible to recover cultured cells in sheet form by mere reduction of temperature.
New therapies in regenerative medicine are very promising for improving the quality of life of patients and of the ageing population, so the market opportunity is quite huge
CellSeed is expanding a worldwide market for culture dishes coated with temperature-responsive polymers. Cell sheets formed in these dishes do not require enzymatic treatment proven damaging to biological tissue to detach cells from the dishes. As cell sheets graft readily to living cells, wounds heal naturally and organ function is restored.
Publicly listed CellSeed holds many varieties of patents that could also elevate treatments for other organs. “We want to take initiative of cell sheet engineering and contribute not only in Japan, but to global health,” says Dr Setsuko Hashimoto, president and CEO.
Supported by Japan’s progressive policy on regenerative medicine since 2014, CellSeed is in advanced stages of clinical trials for oesophageal regeneration. Meanwhile, regenerated knee cartilage sheets in clinical development have good potential for allogeneic transplants.
With its cell processing facility in Tokyo certified for regenerative medicine products, CellSeed expects rapid growth in its contract manufacturing services over the next five years. The company welcomes development collaborations with research institutes and biotech firms worldwide on more applications of cell sheet engineering. It is also keen on global distribution tie-ups, especially in China, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand for intelligent laboratory ware.
“New therapies in regenerative medicine are very promising for improving the quality of life of patients and of the ageing population, so the market opportunity is quite huge,” Hashimoto says.
