iD4: iPSC Delivery on Demand for Drug Discovery Launches Second Phase of Demonstration Experiment Aimed at Expanding Provision of iPS Cells for Research
Press Release
Aug 29, 2024
iPark Institute Co., Ltd.
iD4: iPSC Delivery on Demand for Drug Discovery Launches Second Phase of Demonstration Experiment Aimed at Expanding Provision of iPS Cells for Research
● After four years since the first phase, the second phase of the demonstration experiment is now underway.
● In the second phase, promoting partnerships with biobanks, providing differentiated cells, and building cellular and clinical information databases will begin.
● Calling for companies (supporting members) in pharmaceutical research and development that wish to provide disease-specific iPS cells and differentiated cells.
In July 2024, iD4 (Headquarters: Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Representative Director: Toshio Fujimoto; hereafter known as “iD4”), began the second phase of its demonstration experiment. With the aim of commercializing the disease-specific iPS cell provision platform, iD4 plans to conduct the demonstration experiment in a more expanded form.
iPS cells produced from patients’ cells are extremely useful for elucidating disease mechanisms and developing therapeutic drugs. However, in Japan, iPS cells that can be used for research are not readily available due to a lack of information and an inadequate system.
In response to this, iD4 was established in August 2020 to establish a stable foundation for providing iPS cells and to promote accelerated research on diseases. iD4 is based at the Shonan Health Innovation Park operated by iPark Institute Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture; CEO: Toshio Fujimoto; hereafter known as “iPark Institute”) with iPark Institute’s CEO Toshio Fujimoto acting as the Representative Director.
The first phase of the demonstration, which began in February 2021, completed the entire process in one disease, addressing legal, social, ethical, and scientific issues and demonstrating the feasibility of this platform project.
[Issues addressed in the first phase of the demonstration experiment]
Compliance with ethics and laws
Social recognition and awareness
Enhancement of cell quality and data
Establishment of a flow for provision
In the second phase, which has just started, the corporate structure will be expanded, and supporting members will be recruited from a wide range of companies engaged in research and development related to drug discovery and diagnostic drugs.
In addition, to further advance drug discovery and diagnostic drug research, there are plans to: -Promote partnerships with biobanks
– Started providing iPS cell-derived differentiated cells.
– Establish a database of cellular information and patients’ clinical information.
Those interested in becoming a Supporting Member should contact us at https://www.id-four.com/.
Toshio Fujimoto, Representative Director of iD4 and CEO of iPark Institute, commented on the start of the second phase of the demonstration experiment:
“We are pleased that iD4, which was established with the aim of establishing a supply system for research-use iPS cells, is now ready to take the next step after four years of demonstration experiments. During the first phase of the demonstration experiment, we found specific issues for commercialization, such as lack of information and uniformity of cells in each process of providing and manufacturing iPS cells. In the second phase, we will examine solutions to these issues and aim to establish an iPS cell provision infrastructure that will lead to accelerated research on various diseases, including rare diseases.”
Issues surrounding iPS cells for research
In Japan, the following issues have been identified in the area of iPS cells for research:
1. Cell donation process: Cells cannot be used for drug discovery research due to variations in consent from donors. In addition, there is a lack of information on donor-derived cells.
2. iPS cell production and storage process: Cell quality is inconsistent due to different production methods. In addition, cell storage facilities are not centralized, making it difficult to search for and obtain cells.
3. Cell utilization process: Information on the obtained cells is scarce, and the appropriate cells for induction into the target tissue are unknown.
About iD4: iPSC Delivery on Demand for Drug Discovery
Name: iD4: iPSC Delivery on Demand for Drug Discovery
Representative Director: Toshio Fujimoto
Date of establishment: August 3, 2020
Business Description:
(1) Obtaining and managing cells and cell-related data from medical institutions, etc.
(2) Provision of the following services using human-derived cells and accompanying cell data
i) Sales of iPS cells, differentiated cells, etc. (“processed cells”)
ii) Contract processing services
iii) Drug discovery support services using processed cells
iv) Sale of rights to use cell-associated data
(iii) Development of a data platform utilizing cell-associated data
(4) Promotion of industrial utilization of processed cells
Membership Structure:
Regular members (operator): iPark Institute Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Corporation
Associate member (Operator): Chiyoda Corporation
About iPark Institute Co., Ltd.
iPark Institute Co., Ltd. was established in 2023 with Industrial & Infrastructure Fund Investment Corporation (IIF), Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda), and Mitsubishi Corporation as major shareholders. It took over the management of Shonan Health Innovation Park (Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture) in 2023, which Takeda has been responsible for since 2018. For more information about our company, please click here.
About Shonan Health Innovation Park (Shonan iPark)
Shonan iPark is Japan’s first pharmaceutical-initiated science park, created by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited in April 2018 by opening its own research laboratories to the outside world. Currently operated by iPark Institute Co., Ltd. independent of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, the park aims to become a place where industry, government, and academia from a wide range of industries and sizes can come together to accelerate health innovation. Currently, the ecosystem is comprised of not only pharmaceutical companies, but also companies and organizations in nextgeneration medicine, cellular agriculture, AI, and government, with approximately 180 companies and more than 2,500 people (as of August 2024).
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For the latest information on tenants and member companies at Shonan iPark, click here.
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For inquiries regarding this matter, please contact:
iPark Institute Co., Ltd., Communications
Attn: Takizawa, Sugita
Mail: iPi.PR@shonan-ipark.com