The Tokyo-based company, which is also known under Advanced Center for Tissue Engineering Ltd. (ACTE) and an affiliate to the IMS group, which runs a number of hospitals in Japan, has established a national system to collect baby teeth and permanent teeth such as wisdom teeth, with a patented technology to prevent drying of the […]
Osaka Institute of Technology opens „robot service business school“
The NEDO-supported school is the business end of the Robotics & Design Center of the institute which will open in April 2017. NEDO’s goal is to create human resources that promote the robot industry through innovation and marketing. NEDO news release, July 28, 2016
Hisamitsu Pharmaceuticals develops percutaneous antihistamine patch for the treatment of allergic rhinitis
In a phase-III study in Japan, the „TransDermaSal“ technology of the company, a transdermal drug delivery system based on a systemic tape and doped with a second-generation antihistamine, proved superior to oral administration of the same antihistamine. Hisamitsu Pharmaceuticals news release, July 25, 2016
Sysmex develops ultra-high sensitivity immunoassay to detect immune response of allogenic RPE cells before transplantation, cooperation with Healios
Retinal pigment epithelium cells generated from iPS cells of allogenic donors, as studied by Healios and Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma could be typed by HLA determination. In collaboration with these companies, Sysmex is exploring alternative tests: ultra-high-sensitivity immunoassays in Sysmex’ HISCL format, and imaging flow cytometry. Sysmex news release, July 27, 2016
Immune-Biological Laboratories IBL starts pilot plant for protein production by recombinant silkworms
The 2800 m2 4-floor pilot plant can house up to 9 million silkworms simultaneously, resulting in 80 – 100 g of recombinant proteins such as antibodies. Proteins undeer study are a fibrinogen for Astellas, anti-HIV antibodies, an antibody with high ADCC activity and various antibodies used in the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer. The […]
RIKEN and Meiji University engineer cyanobacteria for enhanced hydrogen production
Using recombinant strains of Synechocastis and engineering the expression of hoxH and other hydrogenase genes, the researchers succeeded to increase the production of succinic and lactic acid from CO2 under anaerobic conditions in the dark 5- and 13-fold, reaching levels of 100 and 300 mg/l, respectively. Hydrogen production was reduced by 20 %, indicating a […]
NEDO starts new project on HFC reduction
Japan will attempt to cope with his target of 32 % for emission reduction according to the 2013 Paris agreement, equivalent to 10.2 million t CO2. The present program is aimed at the reduction and substitution of halogenated refrigerants HFC through the development of small-sized air-conditioning equipment technology using high-efficiency refrigerants with low global warning […]
Keio University spins out venture Methuselah, aiming at fibroblast production
Methuselah Co., set up in Yamagata in June 2016, has developed technology to produce autologous fibroblast cells, a cell type which which can be blended with other functional cells to develop regenerative medicine of various types. BioImpact news release, July 7, 2016
RIKEN’s SACLA starts world’s first facility of soft and hard X-ray free electron laser (FEL)
The hard X-ray FEL reaches 0.1 nm oscillating wavelength, whereas the soft SX-FEL beamline reaches 12 nm wavelength. The SACLA facility is the world’s only which offers both types of beamlines in parallel. RIKEN news release, July 22, 2016
ID Pharma to supply vector for clinical trial of gene therapy for retinitis pigmentosa
The physician-led clinical trial will start 2017 at Kyushu University under Kohei SONODA on incorporating human pigment epithelium-derived factor within a therapeutic vector to human patients. 5 years of animal experiments on this procedure did indicate no problems. Nikkei Biotech news release, July 22, 2016