Key facts
- Japan's science ministry plans to develop easier-to-use and cheaper induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.
- The goal is to treat conditions such as strokes and chronic kidney failure.
- Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have the potential to differentiate into any type of cell.
- Professor Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize for creating iPSCs in 2006.
- Japan granted conditional approval for two iPS cell-based regenerative medicine products in March 2026.
Japan's science ministry is aiming to develop "next-generation" induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells that are easier to use in clinical settings and more cost-effective to produce. The initiative seeks to advance treatments for conditions such as strokes and chronic kidney failure.
iPS cells, first created in 2006 by Professor Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University, have the remarkable ability to differentiate into any cell type, including nerve, muscle, and organ cells. This potential makes them invaluable for understanding disease mechanisms, modeling illnesses, screening drugs, and developing regenerative medicine products. Professor Yamanaka's groundbreaking work earned him the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
The Japanese government, through organizations like the Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), has been actively supporting iPS cell research and development since 2015. This support spans regenerative medicine, drug discovery, disease modeling, and fundamental research, in collaboration with various ministries. A significant milestone was reached on March 6, 2026, when Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare granted conditional marketing approval for two iPS cell-based regenerative medicine products: "RiHEART®" for ischemic cardiomyopathy and "AMCHEPRY®" for Parkinson's disease. These approvals, the first of their kind globally, are subject to further efficacy confirmation and safety evaluation post-marketing.