Japan has given the green light to two innovative regenerative medicine products. ReHeart, developed by Cuorips Inc., will help patients with severe heart failure by promoting new blood vessels underneath their hearts. Amchepry, created by Sumitomo Pharma Co. and Racthera Inc., uses human iPS cells to treat Parkinson’s disease, improving motor function in patients.
These groundbreaking treatments use induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) – a breakthrough discovered by Nobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka. ReHeart fixes damaged heart muscle with sheets made from iPS cells, while Amchepry grows dopamine-producing brain cells that can be injected into the patient’s brain to slow disease progression.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition where dopamine-producing brain cells deteriorate, leading to decreased motor function. These new products offer hope for patients struggling with severe heart failure and Parkinson’s disease.
Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/70874