Fujifilm and Takeda To Co-Develop Regenerative Therapies Using iPS Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes

FUJIFILM Corporation and Takeda Pharmaceutical have announced they will partner to develop regenerative therapies using iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes produced by Fujfilm’s subsidiary, Cellular Dynamics International (CDI).

As stated by Aiichiro Hiruma, General Manager of Regenerative Medicine Division at FUJIFILM Corporation:

“We are delighted to initiate this partnership applying practical use of our iPSC-derived cardiac cells with Takeda, which has abundant experience in drug development and clinical trials. In addition to establishing new treatment methods for patients with heart disease, Fujifilm and Takeda will contribute to the elevation of regenerative medication business to the industrial stage by applying our engineering technologies to manufacture high-quality cells safely and efficiently.”

At its core, the partnership will align manufacturing technology possessed by Cellular Dynamics International, an affiliate company of Fujifilm, with Takeda’s iPSC expertise and research to be conducted by the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Kyoto University. Together, these synergies will support pre-clinical and clinical studies for regenerative medicines that will address unmet cardiac needs, with a focus on heart failure. 

According the news release:

“Fujifilm and Takeda signed the contract on February 8, 2018, allowing Takeda Right of First Negotiation (ROFN) to collaboratively and globally commercialize regenerative medicine products using cardiomyocytes derived from iPSC, currently under development by Fujifilm’s affiliate company, Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. (Madison, USA). Under the contract, Takeda will make a one-time payment to Fujifilm, and both companies will evaluate the safety and efficacy of resulting regenerative medicine therapies.”

To learn more, see Takeda’s press release here.

To learn more about companies developing regenerative therapies, view the “Global Regenerative Medicine Industry Database 2018.”