To transplant iPS Cell into Patients with Spinal Cord Injury: Clinical Trials to Begin as Early as December Next Year

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

iPS細胞 脊髄損傷患者に移植 早ければ来年12月にも治験開始へ

2026年2月24日午後10時42分

iPS細胞

iPS細胞から作った神経のもとになる細胞を脊髄を損傷した患者に移植する世界初の治験を早ければ来年12月にも開始すると、慶応大学発のベンチャー企業が発表しました。

慶応大学などのグループは去年3月、事故などで脊髄を損傷し体が動かせなくなった患者4人にiPS細胞から作った神経のもとになる細胞を移植して運動機能を評価する臨床研究を行い、リハビリだけの場合よりも改善がみられたと報告しました。

この結果を受け慶応大学発のベンチャー企業「ケイファーマ」は24日に会見を開き、早ければ来年12月にも国の承認を得るための治験を始めると発表しました。

治験は脊髄を損傷してから数週間ほどたった重症患者7人程度を対象に行うということで、投与する細胞の数など具体的な計画は今後、検討するということです。

グループによりますとiPS細胞を使った脊髄損傷の治験は世界で初めてだということで、慶応大学の岡野栄之教授は「どんな患者にどれくらい細胞を投与すると効果が得られるのか見極め、一日も早く治療を社会実装できるよう進めていきたい」と話していました。

Translation

To transplant iPS Cell into Patients with Spinal Cord Injury: Clinical Trials to Begin as Early as December Next Year

iPS Cells

A venture company spun off from Keio University announced that it would as early as December next year begin the world's first clinical trial of transplanting nerve-forming cells created from iPS cells into patients with spinal cord injuries.

A group including Keio University conducted a clinical study in March last year by transplanting iPS cell-derived nerve-forming cells to evaluate the motor function of four patients who had been paralyzed by spinal cord injuries due to accidents or other causes. The group reported that the results showed improvement compared to just doing rehabilitation alone.

In response to these results, Kei Pharma, a venture company spun off from Keio University, held a press conference on the 24th and announced that it would begin clinical trials as early as December next year with the aim to earn government treatment approval.

The clinical trial would target approximately seven severely injured patients who had been injured for several weeks. Specific plans, such as the number of cells to be administered, would be considered later.

According to the group, this would be the first clinical trial in the world to use iPS cells for spinal cord injury, and Professor Hideyuki Okano (岡野栄之) of Keio University said, " We would like to determining which patients need how much of the cells to be administered to achieve a beneficial effect. We want to push it forward so that the treatment can be implemented in society as soon as possible."

So, a venture company under Keio University announces that it will begin the world's first clinical trial of transplanting nerve-forming cells created from iPS cells into patients with spinal cord injuries as early as December next year. I hope the transplant will be a success.