Orizuru Therapeutics Inc. and Peptigrowth Inc. are pleased to announce that they have completed the joint development of a chemically synthesized peptide to replace recombinant growth factors used in the manufacture of regenerative medicine products developed by Orizuru Therapeutics, which was announced on August 22, 2023. It has been confirmed that the peptide binds to cell receptors in the same way as recombinant growth factors, induces phosphorylation and signals within cells, and induces differentiation and proliferation of pluripotent stem cells.
Orizuru Therapeutics aims to bring cell therapy products and innovative iPS cell-related technologies (platform innovation) to society, and is engaged in research and development of regenerative medicine using cardiomyocytes and pancreatic islet cells derived from iPS cells, as well as supporting the commercialization of development candidate seeds in collaboration with other business companies and academic institutions.
Peptigrowth is utilizing PeptiDream Inc.’s proprietary peptide discovery technology: PDPS® (Peptide Discovery Platform System) to develop “growth factor alternative peptides.” The company aims to solve all of the issues associated with conventional serum and recombinant growth factors, such as high manufacturing costs, material stability, non-uniformity between production lots, and biological raw material standards, thereby contributing to the further spread and expansion of the regenerative medicine and cell therapy industries.
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In this joint development, Peptigrowth utilized PeptiDream’s unique drug discovery screening technology based on PDPS®, as well as its outstanding peptide synthesis technology and know-how to create multiple candidate peptides with finely tuned affinity to target cell receptors and intracellular signal strength, and provided them to Orizuru Therapeutics. Orizuru Therapeutics used an evaluation system based on differentiated cells derived from iPS cells, which it is developing using its own original technology, to evaluate the viability and functionality of differentiated cells at each differentiation induction stage and narrow down the optimal peptides. The two companies worked closely together to improve physiological activity, chemical stability, solubility, etc., and succeeded in creating an innovative growth factor replacement peptide that has almost the same functions as conventional growth factors in cell proliferation and differentiation induction.
The use of the growth factor replacement peptides we have created is expected to significantly reduce manufacturing costs, and will also eliminate concerns about quality differences between production lots, which were an issue with conventional recombinant growth factors, making it possible to improve the economic rationality and productivity of Orizuru Therapeutics. This research was made possible with the support of the Kyoto University Center under the AMED “Translational Research Program” (Research topic: Development of cell therapy for type 1 diabetes using iPS cell-derived islet cells).
Takeshi Nonaka, President and CEO of Orizuru Therapeutics, said, ” Through joint development with Peptigrowth, a company with excellent technological capabilities, we have succeeded in creating a growth factor replacement peptide. By coming closer to realizing a product price that can be practically used in clinical medical settings, we hope to make a significant contribution to our goal of implementing iPS cell technology in society. ”
Jiro Sugimoto, CEO of Peptigrowth, said, “We are extremely pleased to have been able to develop this innovative growth factor replacement peptide in just a year and a half in collaboration with Orizuru Therapeutics, which is garnering attention for its research and development of regenerative medicine products using iPS cells. We sincerely hope that this product, created using Japan’s advanced technological capabilities, will be widely used in the global market and help solve challenges in the industry. ”
SOURCE: PR TIMES
