Transplantation of retinal cells made from iPS cells applied for as "advanced medical treatment"

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

iPS細胞から作った目の網膜細胞の移植 「先進医療」に申請

2025年2月3日 18時28分

iPS細胞から作った目の網膜の細胞を重い目の病気の患者に移植する治療について、開発を進める神戸市の病院のグループは、医療費の一部に公的な保険が適用される「先進医療」に申請したと明らかにしました。認められればiPS細胞を使う治療としては初めてのケースとなります。

神戸市にある神戸アイセンター病院の栗本康夫院長らのグループは、「網膜色素上皮不全症」という重い目の病気の患者3人にiPS細胞から作った網膜細胞をひも状に加工して移植する臨床研究を行いました。

グループは3人に移植した細胞が1年後も定着していることや、このうち1人は見え方も改善していることが確認できたとして、この治療の計画を「先進医療」として厚生労働省に申請し、1月末に受理されたと連絡があったということです。

先進医療は治療そのものの費用は患者負担となる一方、入院費など関連する医療費の一部に公的な保険が適用されるもので、一定の基準を満たせば実施する医療機関を増やすこともできます。

申請された計画は今後、厚生労働省の専門家会議で審議される予定で、認められればiPS細胞を使う治療としては初めてのケースとなります。

栗本院長は「承認されれば、治療を広く届けられるようになり、改めて身が引き締まる思いだ。日本中のいろいろな施設で治療ができる準備も整えていきたい」と話していました。

グループは将来的に治療そのものの保険適用を目指すとしています。

Translation

Transplantation of retinal cells made from iPS cells applied for as "advanced medical treatment"

A group at a hospital in Kobe City developing a treatment to transplant retinal cells made from iPS cells into patients with serious eye diseases had revealed that it had applied for "advanced medical treatment" to have part of the medical expenses covered by public insurance. If approved, it would be the first case of a treatment using iPS cells.

A group led by Dr. Yasuo Kurimoto (栗本康夫), director of Kobe Eye Center Hospital in Kobe City, conducted a clinical study to process retinal cells into string-like shape for transplanting them into three patients with a serious eye disease called "retinal pigment epithelium deficiency."

The group confirmed that the cells transplanted into the three patients had taken root one year later and that one of the patients' visions had improved, so they applied to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare for this treatment plan be accepted as "advanced medical treatment",  and they were informed at the end of January that it was under consideration.

While the cost of advanced medical treatment itself was to be borne by the patient, some related medical expenses such as hospital fees were to be covered by public insurance, and the number of medical institutions that would perform the treatment could be increased if certain criteria were met.

The plan submitted would be discussed at an expert meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and if approved, it will be the first case of treatment using iPS cells.

Director Kurimoto said, "If approved, we will be able to provide the treatment widely, I feel invigorated again. I also want to prepare to make the treatment available at various facilities across Japan."

The group hoped to have the treatment itself covered by insurance in the future.

So, the treatment to transplant retinal cells made from iPS cells into patients with serious eye diseases may be considered as “advanced medical treatment" to have part of the medical expenses covered by public insurance. If approved, it would be the first case of a treatment using iPS cells. Apparently, it will be good new for many patients.