Use cultured supernatants created by stem cells, not stem cells themselves, for treatment.
First of all, please tell us about your business.
Mr. U-Factor Hori: We are a company that takes on new regenerative medicine using cultured superfluids created by stem cells (which are named U-Factor fluid). There are many companies in Japan that are engaged in the development of regenerative medicine using stem cells themselves, but we believe that the only company in Japan that develops pharmaceuticals using stem cell-derived culture supernatants. The Company was established by Hidehiro Ijima (President and CEO), Minoru Ueda (Director, Professor Emeritus of Nagoya University).
U-Factor Otake: Our technology is based on Professor Minoru Ueda's research. Ueda discovered through non-clinical studies that stem cell-derived culture supernatural fluid contains various bioactive substances, especially cultured supernatural fluids made from teeth stem cells of milk teeth have the potential to have a high therapeutic effect on neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Therefore, we are further promoting the research results of Dr. Ueda and working on the formulation of cultured supernatants using the tooth cedules stem cells of milk teeth.
First of all, please tell us about your business.
Mr. U-Factor Hori: We are a company that takes on new regenerative medicine using cultured superfluids created by stem cells (which are named U-Factor fluid). There are many companies in Japan that are engaged in the development of regenerative medicine using stem cells themselves, but we believe that the only company in Japan that develops pharmaceuticals using stem cell-derived culture supernatants. The Company was established by Hidehiro Ijima (President and CEO), Minoru Ueda (Director, Professor Emeritus of Nagoya University).
U-Factor Otake: Our technology is based on Professor Minoru Ueda's research. Ueda discovered through non-clinical studies that stem cell-derived culture supernatural fluid contains various bioactive substances, especially cultured supernatural fluids made from teeth stem cells of milk teeth have the potential to have a high therapeutic effect on neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Therefore, we are further promoting the research results of Dr. Ueda and working on the formulation of cultured supernatants using the tooth cedules stem cells of milk teeth.
The sense of security that you can study at Mitsui Link Lab Kasai
How did you move into Mitsui Link Lab Kasai?
Mr. U-Factor Hori: In March 2020, shortly after the company was established, I had the opportunity to consult with a person in charge at Mitsui Link Lab. At that time, the first declaration of a state of emergency was just launched following the nationwide pandemic of COVID-19, but I remember that the person in charge responded very carefully, "Would you like to see the lab when declaration of a state of emergency dawns?" After that, he also took various consultations, and in June of that year, he decided to move into Mitsui Link Lab Kasai.
Please let me know if there are any "the advantages of the lab" that you actually felt when you moved in.
Mr. U-Factor Hori: I'm not familiar with the situation of other labs, but there is a sense of security that Kasai Lab is located in the Kasai Research and Development Center of Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. In particular, in our case, it is a very unusual style for a startup to prepare a clean room with a clean level comparable to that of a cell culture facility for regenerative medicine and other products, and challenge the culture and product development of a culture supernatant solution.
U-Factor Otake: Kanto has several other rental office labs, each of which has different characteristics. For example, if you are a university-related facility, the period you can move in may be limited from the beginning. In our case, setting up a clean room in our own company was a decision from the beginning, so it would be difficult if there was a deadline. In that respect, Mitsui Link Lab Kasai was also attractive.
Why do you need a clean room instead of a regular lab?
U-Factor Otake: This is because lab scale research results alone cannot shift to production. Between research and development in the laboratory and verification in the manufacturing process, an intermediate process called "examination in a clean room environment" is essential. Therefore, we are increasing the probability of success in future product development by conducting research on the first lab scale in a clean room environment. In fact, there are many cases where the research at this intermediate point (bridge research) is not successful and development is stalled.
Kasai Lab will continue to be the most upstream of our research and development.
Are you participating in LINK-J events or other events?
Mr. U-Factor Hori: Since the spring and summer of last year, we have been actively participating in symposiums and study sessions hosted by LINK-J, and we encourage our staff to participate. For R&D companies like our company, acquiring new knowledge and information is important and we use it as much as possible. In addition, the job of a culturer tends to be locked up in the lab, so the opportunity to look at external trends and listen to various people is a valuable opportunity in terms of their career advancement.
Finally, what are your goals and prospects for the future?
Mr. U-Factor Hori: In the future, we hope to achieve mass production by outsourcing pharmaceutical products purified from culture supernatants to a contract manufacturing organization. In addition, our lab at Mitsui Link Lab Kasai will continue to be the root of our research and development and the upstream of our development process. Ultimately, we are considering expanding our business not only in Japan but also overseas, and we have already made a blueprint for that. I often talk with the research staff, "The daily work itself is very plain, but let's do our best with the awareness that we are actually challenging great development!"
Today, regenerative medicine requires craftsmanship to increase the number of cells by hand, so there was a problem that it would be expensive medical care. On the other hand, we were established with the goal of "delivering regenerative medicine that can be used for $1 to patients suffering from intractable neurological diseases through mass production of cultured supernatants." We are still challenging the development with the enthusiasm of "If we can't get medicine, the company will be dissolved!" We will continue to do our best to achieve that goal.