The cells induced through endoderm differentiation in vitro from human iPS cells are marketed as Cellartis hiPS Beta Cells for 200.000 Yen per kit. They produce insulin, C- peptide, and express mature pancreatic β cell markers such as MAFA. They keep glucose or incretin concentration-dependent insulin secretion capacity and can be used for drug discovery […]
UMN Pharma prolongs examination period for recombinant influenza vaccine
The multivalent vaccine ASP7374 which will be sold by Astellas is manufactured in insect cell lines. UMN Pharma news release, Sept. 30, 2016
NEDO exhibits new home care for the elderly equipment
At HCR2016 in Tokyo, the following hi-tech tools for the elderly were exhibited: 1. a finger telephone which produces fluent synthetic speech (Finger Den Talk”)
Nagase and Hayashibara market first joint product, an enzyme preparation for bread baking
The enzyme product Denabeiku Extra”, an exo maltotetrahydrolase OH hydrolase (G4 generating enzyme) produced by Pseudomonas stutzeri, increases bread volume during baking. The enzyme is similar to a recombinant enzyme from B. subtilis introduced by Danisco Japan but does not require recombinant technology for production.” Nagase news release,
Toray develops nanoalloy”, a designer polyamide”
The new slide-ring polymer is based on polyrotaxanes, ring-shaped molecules which are penetrated by string-like molecules having structures such as rosary and necklaces. The resulting polymer has a 6 times improved breakage stability and a 20 times improved bending durability compared to conventional polyamides. The concept was developed under JST’s impact program JST news release, […]
Nitta Gelatine develops Cellmatrix, a collagen for use in cell expansion
The low endotoxin type product has already been used in various protocols for cell expansion. It is derived from porcine and bovine tendons and eye lenses. In 2016, a cell trnasport system at ambient temperatures using gelatin gel was developed, reducing vibration during transportation. In RIKEN Kobe’s Masayo Takahashi clinical studies on autologous iPS cell-derived […]
University of Tokyo accepts anonymous complaint on fabricated data
The complaint relates to 22 publications concerning 6 professors, 5 from the School of Medicine and one from the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences. Preliminary investigation by an investigation committee comprising mostly off-campus experts have been started. Nikkei Biotech news release, September 23, 2016
Ministry of Health approves JACE epidermal sheets of J-TEC Co.
The Pharmaceutical Affairs and Food Sanitation Council has approved autologous cultued epidermis JACE of Japan Tissue Engineering Co. (J-TEC) for indications such as gongenital giant pigmented nevus. J-TEC news release,
RIKEN-Keio team resolves molecular mechanism of phototropin, plants’ blue light receptor protein
Using the SPring-8 synchrotron facility which allows the rapid determination of minute structural changes by small-angle x-ray scattering, the researchers elucidated the mechanism of this complex kinase. The 1000 amino acid protein complex phototropin consists of two domains LOV1 and LOV2 of which each contains an FAD residue. If LOV2 receives blue light, the signal […]
RIKEN team achieves iPS cell-derived retinal cell transplantation without immune rejection using HLA matching
The group of Tadashi SUGITA prepared iPS cells from homozygeous cynomolgus monkeys. Retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE cells) derived from these iPS cells were transplanted into the retina of the other cynomolgus monkeys. Only if the MHC type of donors and recipients was matched, no rejection was observed after six months. In-vitro experiments with human-derived […]