News
Our news cover the latest topics, as retrieved from Japanese-language press releases and other information sources.
The list is limited to the latest 30 entries. For older news, please use the button below.
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/p1/24/02/29/11648/ Yamaguchi University’s Institute for Cell Design and Medical Science is focused on cell and gene therapy for both humans and companion animals. The research structure consists of advanced cell therapy research that is responsible for the production of modified cells such as chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T), the development of automatic culture technology, […]
Seven Japanese companies form microbiome consortium focused on short-chain fatty acids
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/p1/24/03/02/11654/ Seven Japanese companies have initiated an “Intestinal Design Co-Creation Project” with a focus on short-chain fatty acids. Short-chain fatty acids are a general term for metabolic substances produced by intestinal bacteria when they break down dietary fibers and oligosaccharides, and mainly include acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid. Participants are Metagen, Ezaki Glico, Calbee, […]
NEDO initiates program on ammonia fuel ship engines
https://www.nedo.go.jp/news/press/AA5_101727.html The shipping industry is one of the priority areas of the green growth strategy. Approximately 700 million tons of CO2 are emitted annually from international shipping, accounting for approximately 2.1% of the world’s total CO2 emissions (as of 2018). The commercial operation of next-generation ships powered by hydrogen, ammonia, LNG, and other fuels will […]
A reconstructed ancestral sortase permits for conjugation of protein to protein or protein to carrier
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscatal.4c00487 Sortases are prokaryotic enzymes that modify surface proteins by recognizing and cleaving a carboxyl-terminal sorting signal. A team of Japanese scientists has reconstructed an ancestral sortase E, named AcSE5, through a combination of sequence data mining and ancestral sequence reconstruction. AcSE5 is a Ca2+ independent sortase and recognizes donors with LAETG at their C-termini. It […]
https://www.nedo.go.jp/content/100972177.pdf The announced budget is 44.5 billion yen (– 275 million €) for the period of 2023 – 2030. The current four project groups and their leaders are Project name Project leader 1 Development of an overall Carbon Nitrogen waste incineration system based on CO2 separation and recovery Nittetsu Engineering Corporation 2 Development of […]
Biotech budgets 2024 of the Japanese government
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/report/16/082400016/012500325/ Nikkei Biotech has reviewed the biotech budgets of the Japanese government for 2024. Japan’s bio-related budget for 2024 remains unchanged at 180.4 billion yen, strengthening cranial nerve disease research and food security Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare promotes research into elucidating the pathology and diagnosis of dementia. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry […]
Solar thermal decomposition of CO2 using CeO2 and hercynite
https://www.nedo.go.jp/news/press/AA5_101720.html As part of the NEDO-funded “International Collaborative Research and Development of Solar Heat Collection Reactor for Carbon Dioxide Decomposition” Niigata University, the Institute of Industrial Science of the University of Tokyo, Shinshu University and the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a technology that uses a new reactive substance to decompose carbon dioxide by […]
Current status of antibody development towards COVID-10 variants
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/column/16/052700070/011500024/ An excellent review up to the end of 2023 (in Japanese)
NEDO consortium pioneers ground improvement with CO2-fixed cement
https://www.nedo.go.jp/news/press/AA5_101721.html In Japan, approximately 8 million tons or approximately 20% of domestic cement demand are used annually for ground improvement. Takenaka, Kajima and Denka Corporation are developing carbon negative concrete CUCO® that emits virtually no carbon dioxide (CO2) during the concrete manufacturing process. Takenaka Corporation has recently developed a “CUCO®-CO2 fixation ground improvement method which […]
Nikkei Biotech publishes 2024 “sumo ranking” of Japanese pharma
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/report/16/082400017/012500075/ According to this analysis, the strongest companies (“Ozeki”) in Kansai are Eisai and Astellas, in Kanto Daiichi Sankyo and Chugai Pharma. The analysis contains many interesting details on Japan’s pharmaceutical industry, including pharma-related startups.
Cultured meat from pluripotent fat cells: Ebara
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/p1/24/01/17/11509/ Nihon University and Ebara Corporation study pluripotent cells made from fat cells to produce cultured meat. Using a specific method, dedifferentiated fat cells DFAT’ can be differentiated into mesodermal tissues. DFAT is a pluripotent cell that can be created by enzymatically decomposing adipose tissue, fractionating it, removing the adipocytes, and culturing them using a […]
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/column/16/021500017/012300318/ Silk Strand Pharma, a startup in Tokyo that develops antibacterial and antiviral drugs to fight infectious diseases, uses silkworms for toxicity testing The use a “S-cubic system” to find antibiotics active against gram-positive bacteria resistant to methicillin and discovered Lysocin E, a new antibacterial candidate against Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Based on these results, Silk […]
Consortium achieves manufacture of “carbon negative” tetrapods for wave dissipation
https://www.nedo.go.jp/news/press/AA5_101715.html A consortium from Kajima, Denka and Takenaka Corporation, under a contract of NEDO, develop CUCO® concrete manufacturing, a carbon negative concrete that emits less than zero carbon dioxide (CO2) during the concrete manufacturing process. Fudo Tetra Co., Ltd., a joint partner of Kajima and this project, manufactures and ships carbon negative concrete at a […]
iPS cell technology may replace animal tests in some drug screening
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/p1/24/01/22/11525/ A research group led by Professor Masato Fujioka and Lecturer Kazuo Nagao of Kitasato University School of Medicine and ITO EN announced the start of industry-academia joint research on the efficacy of green tea ingredients for age-related hearing loss. They aim to develop the product as a functional food or food for specified health […]
In a recent article in Nikkei Biotech, the state of registration of regenerative medicine products in Japan was summarized and discussed. https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/report/16/082400016/010900318/ At present, there are 16 products of which 2 were conditionally approved and 14 are in various stages of clinical testing. Current CAR-T-related and gene therapy studies were not included in this list. […]
Remote palpitation will help telemedicine
https://www.nedo.go.jp/news/press/AA5_101711.html Hokkaido University, BIPROGY Corporation, and Technoface Co. have developed a remote palpation system (hereinafter referred to as this system) that integrates information and examination videos and shares them between remote doctors. We have recently successfully demonstrated remote palpation connecting three locations: Hokkaido University Hospital (Sapporo City, Hokkaido), Obihiro Kosei Hospital (Obihiro City, Hokkaido), and […]
Sumitomo starts clinical trial on iPS cell-derived dopamine neural progenitor cells in the USA
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/p1/23/12/26/11462/ Sumitomo Pharma announced that the Stanford Stem Cell Institute CIRM will start a physician-initiated clinical trial for Parkinson’s disease treatment using heterologous iPS cells. The clinical trial will use iPS cells derived from a QHJI donor and provided by the Kyoto University iPS Cell Research Foundation. Sumitomo Pharma will produce dopamine neural progenitor cells […]
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/p1/23/12/21/11450/ Sysmex has acquired additional shares of Megakaryon, a company with technology to generate platelets from iPS cells, making it a consolidated subsidiary as of December 20, 2023. Megakaryon is a startup established in September 2011 to commercialize the research results of Professor Hiroyuki Eto and his team at the Center for iPS Cell Research […]
Euglena Co. to sell algal feed and fertiliser
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/p1/23/12/18/11422/ Euglena announced that it will start to utilize Euglena powdering the agri-business field because of its low environmental impact and high value-added. The company’s agri-tech business has two pillars: animal feed and crop fertilizers. The company has obtained various data showing that the addition of Euglena activates the function of lactic acid bacteria, and […]
Kao introduces gallic acid made by synthetic biology
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/p1/23/12/13/11409/ On December 13, 2023, Kao announced that it will begin B-to-B sales of gallic acid in Japan (product name: GA-100 BIO), produced by utilizing genetically engineered coryneform bacteria. Gallic acid is an aromatic compound found in the insect galls of the poison ivy plant, and is used as a chemical necessary for semiconductor circuit […]
iFactory allows for on-demand continuous production of pharmaceuticals
https://www.nedo.go.jp/news/press/AA5_101710. As part of the NEDO-subsidized “Strategic Energy Saving Technology Innovation Program” , Takasago Chemical Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Ltd., Konica Minolta Chemical Co., Ltd., Yokogawa Solution Service Co., Ltd., and Tech Project Service Co., Ltd. Taisei Corporation, Shimadzu Corporation, Mitsubishi Kakoki Co., Ltd., and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and […]
Three leading bio/healthcare startups: Spiber, Inovacel and CureApp
A recent article in the magazine Nikkei Biotech looks at the situation of Japanese start-ups in bio and healthcare. https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/p1/23/11/24/11338/ The funding environment for startups in Japan is less mature than in Europe and the United States, and the amounts raised per funding round are generally small. Recently, however, some Japanese bio/healthcare startups have raised […]
CCUS: Japan inaugurates ship for liquid CO2 sea transport
https://www.nedo.go.jp/news/press/AA5_101705.html The CO2 transport test ship “Ekusukuru”, which incorporates a marine cargo tank system for transporting carbon dioxide (CO2) and was developed as part of the “CCUS Research, Development and Verification Project” commissioned by NEDO, was completed, and a naming and delivery ceremony was held. (NGL) and the Engineering National Association of Japan (ENAA), which […]
Shimadzu subsidiary launches screening tests for newborn
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/p1/23/11/21/11323/ Shimadzu Corporation announced that its subsidiary Shimadzu Diagnostics will begin selling the TKSneoFinder detection reagent set, a PCR reagent kit for newborn screening tests. In conjunction with the sales of the kit, Shimadzu Techno-Research, a subsidiary of Shimadzu Corporation, plans to launch a contract newborn screening testing business within FY2023. TKSneoFinder is a PCR […]
Green Earth Institute GEI announces new focus areas
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/p1/23/11/21/11321/ During a financial results meeting for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, the company introduced the pipeline it is currently developing and explained the areas it will focus on in the future. The company’s FY09/2023 sales were 897 million yen (+53.4% YoY), with an operating loss of 106 million yen (vs. an operating […]
Japanese student team wins world synthetic biology competition with production of antidepressants by E. coli
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/p1/23/11/15/11297/ The International Genetically Engineered Machine competition (iGEM), an event in which students from around the world compete for research ideas and results in the field of synthetic biology, was held in France from November 2-5, 2023, and a team of Japanese junior and senior high school students won. The team, called “Japan-United,” was headed […]
Euglena biofuel production plant moving towards commercialization
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/p1/23/10/31/11231/ Euglena is used to produce biofuels such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), biodiesel fuel, and bionaphtha by adding fats and oils extracted from the microalgae Euglena to used cooking oil. Biofuels are being produced at a biofuel manufacturing demonstration plant in Yokohama City. The plant is scheduled to close by the end of January […]
Takenaka’s CUCO cement features over 80% reduction of CO2 emissions during production
https://www.nedo.go.jp/news/press/AA5_101698.html As part of NEDO’s Green Innovation Fund project “Development of concrete manufacturing technology using CO2”, Takenaka Corporation, together with Kajima Corporation and Denka Corporation, will develop carbon negative concrete that emits less than zero carbon dioxide (CO2) during the concrete manufacturing process. They have developed a concrete product called CUCO-precast material for construction that […]
Idemitsu Kosan establishes joint research department at Kobe University for smart cells for making agrochemicals and oils
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/p1/23/10/02/11138/ Idemitsu Kosan has established the Idemitsu Joint Research Division for Biotech Manufacturing at Kobe University’s Center for Advanced Biotechnology Research. The joint research division will work on the development of smart cells (genetically modified microorganisms and cells) for the production of biofuels, bio-chemicals, and bio-agrochemicals, with the aim of building a bio-manufacturing value chain. […]
Sakana Dream Co. develops high-value aquaculture fish through reproductive stem cell transplantation
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/column/16/021500017/100300305/ https://sakana-dream.com/english Sakana Dream (Tateyama City, Chiba Prefecture) is developing and marketing new cultured fish by applying a surrogate fish parent technique that transplants reproductive stem cells between different species. The technology is based on that of Professor Goro Yoshizaki of the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, who is known for his “research […]
© COPYRIGHT 2022 WINDOW TO Japan / bio4business