ToMMO, the Tohoku Medical MegaBank Organization, is focused on genomic medicine, which requires to accurately analyze the genome sequence of individuals based on differences to a “reference genomic sequence”. As the “international reference genome” was created based on genomes from European and African populations, ToMMo has now created its own reference genome JG 1 based […]
DENSO partners with Euglena Corp. on micro algae R&D
Within a comprehensive alliance for business development of microalgae, both companies will cover 1. Development of biofuels business (“Green Oil Japan”), 2. R&D of micro algae culture technology, 3. Use of algae for foods and cosmetics, and 4. Production of substances by microalgae. The partnership will comprise Euglena’s focus on Euglena algae, and Denso’s on […]
MHLW approves two gene therapies in Japan
The two items approved were Anges Co. HGF gene therapy for treatment of critical limb ischemia (AMG0001, beperminogene perplasmid) Novartis CAR-T cell therapy Kymriah (Tisagenlecleucel) for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic B-cell leukemia Nikkei Biotech news release, February 21, 2019
VIGO Medical Co. to test effect of pure oxygen supply with major Japanese football club
In a cooperative project with NEDO, the company will supply its Oxy’s® oxygen generator to Japan First League Oita Trinita players for a year and perform blood tests of athletes’ vital measurements (body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, mileage, number of sprints increase and decrease). By analyzing the results, the efficacy of high concentration oxygen such […]
Keio University team to start application of regenerative medicine for subacute spinal cord injury
Professor Ekuo OKANO of Keio University School of Medicine and colleagues have obtained MHLW approval for clinical studies on allogenic iPS cell-derived neural progenitor cells for the treatment of subacute stage spinal cord injury. They will now investigate the safety and effectiveness by increasing the number of transplanted cells in spinal cord injury in a […]
University team develops methane dry reforming catalyst for operation at 500 C
The team at Kochi University and Tokyo University of Technology succeeded to develop a Ni / Y 2 O 3 catalyst which allows to produce synthesis gas from methane and CO at below 600 C without coking. The catalyst is composed of Ni and Y2O3 which are topological intertwined in a nano phase separation structure. The […]
Tanabe Mitsubishi turns product development over to venture company
Mitsubishi Tanabe announced that phase I of its antibody-drug complex MT-8633 against solid cancer will be carried out by Open Innovation Partners, a Tokyo-based venture. It is believed that this move is meant to raise development speed. Tanabe-Mitsubishi Pharma news release, February 14, 2019
Daiichi Sankyo to apply for approval of gene therapy for cancer treatment
The application for domestic manufacturing and marketing is based on a doctor-based interim analysis of 13 subjects (corresponding to phase II) with the oncolytic herpes simplex virus vector G47Δwhich showed a 92.3 % survival rate. Nikkei Biotech news release, February 14, 2019
Dainippon Printing develops electronic tags for food products, improvement of supply chain management
Under a NEDO contract, Dainippon printing is testing RFID tags on food and drinking products. RFID readers installed on the pricing shelf automatically read the electronic tag to identify the product whose consumption date is approaching, to the effect that cash discount will be carried out when purchasing the product, and advertisement of this product is […]
RIKEN team develops novel self-healing polymers
A team at RIKEN’s Center for Environmental Resources Science has developed a precise copolymerization of ethylene and anisylpropylenes by using a proprietary rare earth catalyst. The new polymer exhibits high elongation (2200%) and excellent self-repairing performance. It can be deployed as a shape memory material by temperature control and exhibits ashape recovery rate of 99%. […]