Palo Alto-based biotech startup to mass manufacture clinical-grade iPSCs for cell therapy

I Peace, Inc. (CEO: Koji Tanabe, https://ipeace.com/), a Palo Alto-based biotech startup focusing on Nobel Prize-wining technology of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has successfully developed a novel system to mass manufacture clinical-grade iPSCs for cell therapy in a palm-size closed cassette. The system was developed in collaboration with FANUC CORPORATION (Head Office: Oshino, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan; CEO: Kenji Yamaguchi). The technology is modular and scalable with a small footprint, paving the way for simultaneous mass production of clinical-grade iPSCs from a multitude of donors in a single facility. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells or iPSCs) are stem cells induced from somatic cells that are reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell-like state by introducing special factors (genes). iPSCs are able to become any type of cells in the body and proliferate almost indefinitely, like an embryonic stem cell. Unlike embryonic stem cells, iPSCs can be made from matured cells in the body, such as skin or blood cells, from anyone. iPSCs-derived cell therapy generated from a patient's own cells minimizes the risk of immune rejection. It is expected to change the course of regenerative medicine, drug discovery, and personalized medicine. Unlike other stem cells such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), iPSCs can differentiate into all tissue and cell types, can be made with a small amount of cells, and can be grown to quantities necessary. These unique abilities make iPSCs unrivaled as stem cells of choice for patient-specific cell therapy and drug discovery.  For example, COVID19/SARS-CoV-2-targeted lung cells, differentiated from patient-derived iPSCs, are a valuable in vitro disease model and can be used for drug and vaccine discovery for SARS-CoV-2.