October 2, 2017
Keio University School of Medicine
Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, a local independent administrative agency
Project Associate Professor Yumiko Matsubara of the Clinical and Translational Research Center, Keio University School of Medicine (also a Research Group Leader at the Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology), Professor Emeritus Yasuo Ikeda of the School of Medicine, and their colleagues, in joint research with the Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (KISTEC), a local independent administrative agency, have discovered that subcutaneous fat cells differentiate into platelets via megakaryocytes. They have now established a culture technology for the stable, mass production of platelets from subcutaneous adipose tissue in vitro. This technology has the distinct advantages of being simple and highly safe, as it does not require the introduction of external genes.
For the purpose of early commercialization of these research results, a venture company, AdipoSeeds, Inc. (Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Hiroshi Miyazaki), was established in July 2016. While the research group led by Project Associate Professor Matsubara will continue to conduct research and development at Keio University, AdipoSeeds, Inc. will manage intellectual property, conduct overseas marketing research, and aim for commercialization in two medical applications: as a substitute for platelet transfusions and for promoting wound healing.
Please see below for the full press release.