Japan Innovates Medicine Through Regenerative Therapies

Several groups in Japan have announced plans to conduct clinical studies on donated stem cells in order to commercialize regenerative therapies. These studies will begin in April 2017. Applications of these studies include skin grafts for burn victims, liver cirrhosis tissue regeneration, and periodontal disease treatments. Using donor stem cells will significantly cut costs and tissue growth times versus using the patient’s own stem cells. In late 2014, Japan issued new regulations streamlining regenerative therapies to allow such products to reach the market sooner.