The Center for iPS Cell Research Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, and Takeda will work together to develop clinical applications for induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells in areas such as heart failure, diabetes mellitus, neurological disorders and cancer immunotherapy. iPS cell technologies have the potential to bring about groundbreaking transformations to future medical treatments, and their applications span a variety of fields, including drug discovery, cell therapy and drug safety assessments.
The collaboration is expected to make significant contributions to the science and application of iPS cell technology in clinical practice, which requires a significant amount of time, effort and investment.
‘This 10 year joint programme with Takeda, Japan's largest pharmaceutical company, will become a powerful engine to realise medical applications using iPS cells,’ said CiRA Director, Shinya Yamanaka. ‘This partnership will contribute to the development of new therapies to cure not only major diseases but also rare ones.’
‘I am excited that we will be able to collaborate with CiRA, the world's leading institute dedicated to pioneering iPS cell research,’ said Christophe Weber, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Takeda. ‘We hope to deliver innovative treatments that meet patient needs as soon as possible.’
Takeda will provide research facilities at its Shonan Research Center and collaborative funding of ¥20bn during a 10-year period. In addition, Takeda will provide research support (facility, equipment, researchers and services) worth more than ¥12bn.
Initial research projects include heart failure, diabetes mellitus, neuropsychiatric disorders and cancer immunotherapy. Additional projects will be included as the collaboration moves forward. Once set up, around 10 projects will be pursued concurrently.
