October 17, 2018
Asahi Kasei Corp.

Asahi Kasei has concluded a license agreement with iPS Academia Japan, Inc. for iPS cell technology patented by Kyoto University.

The agreement grants Asahi Kasei a worldwide license for iPS cell-related patents licensed by iPS Academia Japan to treat traumatic articular cartilage damage¹, non-exclusive for iPS cell technology and exclusive for technology to induce chondrification². Under the terms of the agreement, Asahi Kasei obtains exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and sell products of regenerative medicine derived from iPS cells for the treatment of traumatic articular cartilage damage. iPS Academia Japan receives a lump sum payment and development milestones as well as royalties proportional to sales amounts and sales milestones.

Asahi Kasei will work to establish manufacturing technology to commercialize products of regenerative medicine derived from iPS cells for traumatic articular cartilage damage through collaborative research with Prof. Noriyuki Tsumaki of the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application at Kyoto University. By adding regenerative medicine technology for cartilage to its R&D platform, Asahi Kasei intends to further strengthen business in the field of orthopedics.

• ¹ Cartilage damage at a joint due to fracture, dislocation, or ligament injury from sports or traffic accidents, causing impaired joint movement or joint pain which hinders daily life or sports activity.
• ² Technology to differentiate pluripotent stem cells into cartilage cells in specific culture conditions and develop an extracellular matrix to create cartilage-like tissue.

About iPS Academia Japan, Inc.

Established in June 2008 in partnership with Kyoto University to widely promote the use of iPS cell-related patents based on the research results by Prof. Shinya Yamanaka and his colleagues, iPS Academia Japan became an approved TLO (technology licensing organization) in 2016. iPS Academia Japan manages intellectual property concerning iPS cells and grants licenses to organizations which pursue the development of therapeutic technology or medicine. For further information, please visit: http://ips-cell.net/e/

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