RepliCel Life Sciences’ Licensing Partner, Shiseido, Opens Cell Processing and Expansion Facility in Japan to Advance RCH-01, a Treatment for Pattern Baldness
May 20, 2014
Source: replicel.com
“Shiseido has been working diligently on the construction of their facility and we congratulate them on their efficiency and commitment to building a world-class cell research and development centre capable of handling all aspects of the RCH-01 technology from hair follicle biopsy through to cell replication and patient treatment,” commented David M. Hall, CEO of RepliCel Life Sciences. “We continue to support Shiseido with its highly focused development towards commercialization of RCH-01 as a treatment for pattern baldness.”
The KBIC is a complex of medical-related industries located on the 833-hectare man-made island of Port Island in Kobe, Japan. Working in cooperation with academic research institutions, government organisations, and industry, the island has been developed as a focal point for research and development of highly advanced medical technologies with the goal of streamlining processes from research to clinical application and commercialization.
Regenerative medicine in Japan is an emerging industry which the government has designated as an important part of its economic reform. Legislative support has come from the introduction of new laws to expedite otherwise lengthy clinical research and trial application processes to promote competitive advantage in the international market. In November 2013, as one of the new economic reform strategies, the Japanese government passed the Regenerative Medicine Law, which ensures safety of regenerative medicine, and approved revisions to its existing Pharmaceutical Affairs Law to improve the timelines for the development of regenerative medicine and to promote commercialization. Shiseido has entered into this field via its licensing agreement with RepliCel and is committed to its advancement and success.
Licensing Agreement
On July 11, 2013, RepliCel and Shiseido announced the completion of a Collaboration and Technology Transfer Agreement, giving Shiseido an exclusive geographic license to use RCH-01 hair regeneration technology in Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan and the ASEAN countries Shiseido and RepliCel will collaborate on the continued improvement of the technology and will conduct human clinical trials in each of their territories with the goal of commercializing a safe and effective hair regenerative treatment to help those suffering from pattern baldness and thinning hair.
RCH-01 has been developed over 10 years of scientific research, and safe application in humans was validated during RepliCel’s phase 1 clinical trial. RepliCel has patents issued for hair follicle mesenchymal stem cells and their usage in Japan, the United States, Australia and the EU. RCH-01 is an autologous cell-based hair regenerative technology whereby specific hair follicle cells are isolated from a scalp biopsy, expanded in culture at a cell processing facility and injected back into patients.
About the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster and Shiseido’s Facility
More than 260 domestic and international companies have built R&D facilities focusing on regenerative medicine, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and devices in the research park, taking advantage of the opportunities for collaboration and synergy that the KBIC fosters. Centralised support services facilitate clinical research, commercialisation, consultations on pharmaceutical development issues and financing, and the establishment of comprehensive platforms for biomedical research and development. The Business Support Centre for Biomedical Research Activities has been built to support and to provide space for research and commercialization of regenerative medicine. This facility is divided into two sections, research and cell-processing. Shiseido’s Cell-Processing and Expansion Centre (SPEC) is located in the cell processing section, Room 620, 1-5-5 Minamimachi, Minatojima, Chuoku, Kobe, 650-0047, Japan.
About RepliCel Life Sciences
RepliCel is a regenerative medicine company focused on developing autologous cell therapies that treat functional cellular deficits including chronic tendinosis, pattern baldness and skin aging. Initiation of Phase 2 trials are planned for 2014 on RepliCel’s RCT-01 treatment for Achilles tendinosis and RCH-01 treatment for pattern baldness. Shiseido Company, Limited has an exclusive geographic license for RCH-01 in certain Asian countries including Japan, China and South Korea. Both product candidates are based on RepliCel’s innovative technology which utilizes cells isolated from a patient’s own healthy hair follicles to address specific cellular deficits. These products are built on the company’s proprietary manufacturing platforms. For additional information please visit www.replicel.com.
