Human induced pluripotent stem cellsCHRISTINE HALE, WIKIMEDIAA pharmaceutical company based in Osaka, Japan, opened a regenerative medicine center yesterday (March 22) that will produce cells derived from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells for commercial applications. The center is the first plant of its kind globally. It will initially produce cells for use in clinical trials.
The Sumitomo Dainippon Manufacturing Plant for Regenerative Medicine & Cell Therapy will allow the company to “gain an overwhelming advantage in the market of medical and pharmaceutical products,” Masayo Tada, president of Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma, tells The Asahi Shimbun. “We will occupy a definite position in the field of regenerative medicine.” On April 1, Hiroshi Nomura, currently the company’s executive vice president, will replace Tada as president, according to The Pharma Letter. Tada will transition to the position of chairman.
Existing iPSC production facilities, including the National Institutes of Health’s Center for Regenerative Medicine and WiCell’s Stem Cell Bank, have made cells available to researchers. The Sumitomo Dainippon plant will be the first to offer cells for commercial purposes.
Construction of the center cost approximately ...
