CiRA and Takeda to collaborate on iPS Cell Research

Takeda and the Centre for iPS Cell Research Application (CiRA) are to work together to develop clinical applications of induced pluripotent stem cells in areas such as heart failure, diabetes mellitus, neurological disorders and cancer immunotherapy.

The “Takeda-CiRA Joint Programme for iPS Cell Applications” (T-CiRA) is designed to expedite multiple research projects for drug discovery and cell therapy using iPS cells. CiRA Director Shinya Yamanaka, a Nobel laureate for his work on iPS cells, will direct the programme.

T-CiRA to run for a period of 10 years

iPS cell technologies have the potential to bring about ground-breaking transformations to future medical treatments, and their applications span a variety of fields, including drug discovery, cell therapy and drug safety assessments. During a period of 10 years, Takeda and CiRA will jointly run projects led by research experts invited from CiRA. The collaboration is expected to make significant contributions to the science and application of iPS cell technology into clinical practice, which requires a significant amount of time, effort and investment.

“This 10-year joint program with Takeda, Japan’s largest pharmaceutical company, will become a powerful engine to realizing medical applications using iPS cells,” said Professor Yamanaka. “This partnership will contribute to the development of new therapies to cure not only major diseases but also rare ones.”

Takeda will provide T-CiRA research facilities at its Shonan Research Centre

“I am excited that we will be able to collaborate with CiRA, the world’s leading institute dedicated to pioneering iPS cell research,” said Christophe Weber, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Takeda. “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. It is our hope to deliver innovative treatments that meet patient needs as soon as possible through this collaboration between Takeda and CiRA.”

This collaboration is aligned with the purpose of National Projects of Japan on clinical applications of iPS cell technologies. Takeda will provide research facilities at its Shonan Research Centre and collaborative funding of 20 billion yen over a 10-year period. In addition, Takeda will provide more than 12 billion yen worth of research support over the 10-year collaboration period.