The program is clustered around Professor Takashi YAMAMOTO who has developed artificial nucleases (TALEN and ZFN), chimera proteins whose domains are specifically combined with restriction enzyme FokI. If it combines with the target sequence, DNA will be cut. Since selection of a target sequence is possible, this method is considered as next-generation KO technology, which […]
Anaeropharma Science Co. starts clinical tests in the US on cancer treatment using recombinant Bifidus bacteria
The test strain, Bifidobacterium longum (APS001F) which expresses adenosine deaminase (AD), will be administered intravenously followed by 5-fluorocytosine, leading to selective formation of highly toxic 5-fluorouracil in anaerobic environments where tumor tissue is located. The patient is also given maltose, a growth factor for Bifidobacteria. Experiments on mice and rats in Japan led to a […]
Team at University of Tokyo and Meiji University succeeds on pancreas transplantation in swine model
Profs. Hiroshi NAGASHIMA and others report that transfer of swine blastomeres to transgenic swine embryos defunct in pancreas formation led to healthy swines carrying a normal pancreas. This study is part of the ERATO “Nakauchi stem cell control project” financed by the JST. Hitomi MATSUNARI et al., PNAS doi:10.1073/pnas.1222902110
Daiichi Sankyo announces foundation of “Orphan Disease Treatment Institute, Inc.”, nucleic acid-based drug for treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is first target
The company will be jointly financed by Daiichi Sankyo and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital. Technology is based on an antisense oligonucleotide (an ethylene-bridged nucleic acid) which acts by exxon skipping. The target period for clinical proof of concept is 4 years. Daiichi Sankyo press release, February 14, 2013
JST obtains FY2013 budget of 126 billion Yen, over 20 billion Yen increase from FY2012
The increase is for mostly for industrialization of research results from universities through public private partnerships. Regenerative medicine and the industrialization of iPS cell technology will be strongly supported Nikkei Biotech, February 13, 2013
METI will support clinical trials for regenerative medicine by 1 billion Yen in FY2013
Nikkei Biotech, February 13, 2013
Nichimo Biotechs’ ImmuBalance, a natural medicine, obtains „raw material of high quality“ attestation
The prebiotic is produced by Aspergillus fermentation in a salt-free surface medium on a defatted soybean substrate and sold as antiallergic material Nichimo Biotechs press release, February 12, 2013
Orphan drug introduction to require government support in pricing
Whereas there are several examples in Japanese Pharmaceutical Industry were orphan drugs with a clear indication have been developed, pricing schemes are still not finally concluded with the National Health Insurance scheme, and the present discussion of a 20 % higher price might not be enough to cover additional costs Nikkei Biotech, February 12, 2013
Nestlé Japan introduces tea drink with doubled polyphenol content
The polyphenols originate from green coffee bean extracts Nestlé Japan website https://nestle.jp/brand/grn/
New Bifidus bacterium species isolated from excrements of free-living lowland gorillas
Prof Juichi YAMAGIWA, Kyoto Prefectural university, has screened and characterized a new species of Bifidobacterium from the excrements of a herd of about 20 Western lowland gorillas in Gabon. Genetic analysis revealed that this species might be phylogenetically older compared to Bifidobacteria species in the human gut. Nikkei Journal, February 8, 2013