Regarding the transplantation of heart cells made from iPS cells, a research group at Osaka University announced that they have completed all the surgeries planned as clinical trials to develop new treatments. The progress of all patients is going well, and we aim to put it into practical use within two years.
This was revealed on the 19th by a group led by Project Professor Yoshiki Sawa of Osaka University at a press conference in Tokyo.
For the past three years, the Group has been conducting a clinical trial in which cardiac muscle cells are made from iPS cells, and cardiomyocyte sheets, which are cultured in sheets, are affixed to the surface of the heart of patients with severe heart disease and transplanted.
Transplants were performed on a total of eight patients at Osaka University and Tokyo Women's Medical University, and all planned surgeries were completed.
Since the progress of all patients is going well, the group will check the progress of the patients for half a year, compile data on safety and efficacy, apply to the government, and aim for approval as a general treatment covered by insurance within two years.
A woman in her 3s who underwent surgery at Tokyo Women's Medical University in March said, "My family encouraged me to make the decision that there was a possibility of improvement, and now I am glad that I participated in the clinical trial."
Project Professor Sawa said, "With the cooperation of my collaborators and patients, I was able to complete all surgeries without any problems, and I would like to continue to work hard to establish a treatment method originating in Osaka for patients around the world."