Retinitis pigmentosa is a genetic disorder that involves the loss of photoreceptor cells. Sumitomo Pharma has developed an allogenic iPS cell-derived retinal sheet transplantation therapy for the condition. We have improved our self-organizing culture technology to generate 3D retinal organoid (3D-retina) in collaboration with RIKEN. For the clinical research conducted by the Kobe City Eye Hospital, we provided our allogenic iPS cell-derived retinal sheets manufactured at the Regenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center. Two patients have received transplantation as scheduled. Now they are under observation. We plan to schedule a company initiated clinical study soon.

For another joint research project with RIKEN, we have manufactured retinal tissues from human ES cells with specific genes deleted for better engraftment following transplantation. We are developing next-generation retinal tissues as well.

Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd.

epresentative Director,
Executive Vice President Toru KIMURA

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