The patent for the establishment of animal iPS cells has been granted in Japan.

We are pleased to announce that we have been granted a patent in Japan for the foundational technology behind the establishment of animal iPS cells (Patent No. 7591219). This patent, based on the results of joint research by Keio University and Nihon University, was filed jointly, and Vetanic holds an exclusive license to its utilisation.

Establishing iPS cells (induced pluripotent stem cells) in various animal species other than mice has long been recognised as a challenge. These species, known as “Resistance to pluripotency induction”, contain many animals that are closely connected to humans, such as dogs and cats. Our technology founders – Professor and Director Hideyuki Okano of the Keio University Regenerative Medicine Center, Professor Seiji Shiozawa of the Disease Model Research Center at Kurume University School of Medicine, and Professor and Director Kazuya Edamura of the Nihon University Animal Medical Center at Nihon University College of Bioresource Sciences – have developed a proprietary method to stably induce iPS cells in these animal species and establish cell lines suitable for clinical applications.

This patent grant confirms the patentability of this method within Japan. Moving forward, we aim to secure patent approval for this technology in other countries as well.

Technical Details:
Establishing methods to produce iPS cells from various animal species – a critical resource forming the foundation of cell engineering using stem cells.