Retina Institute, Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma to develop iPS cell technology

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Retina Institute Japan KK and Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma (DSP) have signed an agreement for DSP to invest into Retina to put iPS cell technology to practical use.

Under the agreement, DSP and Retina will collaborate to use groundbreaking iPS cell technology to cure age-related macular degeneration.

RIJ is one of the RIKEN Ventures and aims to commercialize the world’s first pharmaceutical iPS cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial cells for an estimated $21 billion market based on the license of the patent on the technology developed by RIKEN, one of the leading research institutes in Japan. Moreover, both parties aim to develop other technologies like photo receptor transplantation, retinal regenerative medicine and diagnostic methods to make current refractory retinal diseases to treatable diseases.