CiRA & Takeda Undertake US$267 Million iPS Collaboration

The ten-year research collaboration to be hosted at Takeda’s Shonan Research Center will focus on developing clinical applications for iPS cells.

AsianScientist (Apr. 22, 2015) – Center for iPS Cell Research Application (CiRA) of Kyoto University and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda) will work together to develop clinical applications of induced pluripotent (iPS) stem cells.

The “Takeda-CiRA Joint Program for iPS Cell Applications” (T-CiRA) is designed to expedite multiple research projects for drug discovery and cell therapy using iPS cells. CiRA Director Yamanaka Shinya, a Nobel laureate for his work on iPS cells, will direct the Program, while Takeda will provide long-term funding, recommendations on research management and facilities at its Shonan Research Center, Fujisawa, Japan.

“This ten-year joint program with Takeda, Japan’s largest pharmaceutical company, will become a powerful engine to realizing medical applications using iPS cells,” said Yamanaka. “We sincerely thank Takeda’s commitment to iPS cell research. This partnership will contribute to the development of new therapies to cure not only major diseases but also rare ones.”

“Through this partnership, our company will provide significant assistance over a long period to CiRA’s research into iPS cell technology applications, which is a vital part of Japan Revitalization Strategy,” said Christophe Weber, President and Chief Executive Officer of Takeda.

Takeda will provide research facilities at its Shonan Research Center and collaborative funding of 20 billion yen (~US$167 million) over the ten-year period. In addition, Takeda will provide more than 12 billion yen (~US$100 million) worth of research support (facility, equipment, Takeda researchers and various research services) over the ten-year collaboration period.

About 100 researchers including new researchers recruited globally are to be based at Takeda’s Shonan Research Center engaged in joint research, with each contributing about 50 researchers. Also, the access to special research assets, such as Takeda’s compound libraries, will be provided for the collaboration.

Potential initial research projects include heart failure, diabetes mellitus, neuro-psychiatric disorders and cancer immunotherapy. Additional projects will be included as the collaboration moves forward. Once set up, around ten projects will be pursued concurrently.

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Source: Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.
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