“OligoGenie” is a new type of human neural stem cells with many positive features.
It is thought to be effective for nursing patients with neurological disorders.

Patent on this cell and its culture method have already approved by 29 countries including Japan, USA and EPO(※).
　(※As of August 4, 2020)

In addition to the patents, we are successful in controlling the differentiation process of the cell. These methods are one of our core and fundamental technologies as well.

By using these technologies, we can research and develop cell therapy products and screen drug candidates for various diseases. We will also keep expanding our technologies.

What is "OligoGenie"?

“OligoGenie” are new type of human neural stem cells that can differentiate into oligodendrocytes at 99% efficiency in vitro, which is one of the main components of the brain as well as neuron and astrocytes.
The role of oligodendrocytes is making a myelin sheat, which acts as an insulator, on the axon of a neuron.

We aim to provide new therapies using “OligoGenie” for patients suffering from neurological disorders without treatments, such as Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD), Multiple sclerosis and Spinal cord injury.

Features and Characteristics

➤　High differentiation potency to Oligodendrocytes (at 99% efficiency in vitro without serum and in vivo)
➤　Expression of polysialic acid (PSA) that effects on axonal regeneration on the cell surface
➤　Expandable (>1 billion times)
➤　Multipotent (Capable of differentiating to neuron, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in vitro in the presence of serum)
➤　No tumorigenicity
➤　Low manufacturing cost
➤　Tolerant for freeze and thaw

Compare with Conventional Technologies

Higher therapeutic effects than competitor's products

OligoGenie has a great advantage over competitor’s neural stem cells.
Neural stem cells are thought to be effective in treating spinal cord injury patients by differentiating into oligodendrocytes.
Our cells can differentiate into oligodendrocytes at 99% efficiency that is more than 5 times higher (in vitro) than competitor's products.

Lower risk of cancer and manufacturing cost than ESC or iPSC cell-derived products

OligoGenie has a great advantage over ESC- or iPSC-derived neural stem cells as well because it will not make any tumor and its production cost is much lower than them.
Our cell is expandable more than 1 billion times with no tumorigenicity. They are multipotent and tolerant for freeze and thaw.

Provide New Therapies:
Cell Therapy Products / Drug Screening

OligoGenie can be used as cell therapy products or drug screening for patients with neurological disorders using our advanced culture method.

Target Diseases

　Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD), Multiple sclerosis, Spinal cord injury, Alzheimer disease, etc...

■ Target 1: Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease

 

Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease is a rare central nervous system disorder and one of congenital cerebral hypomyelination.
It is specified as a intractable disease and there is no effective treatment at this time.

This occurs as a result of genetic abnormalities that affect growth of the myelin sheath in the central nervous system and development of the cerebral white matter.
As a result, it causes several symptoms, such as rapid involuntary movements of the eyes (nystagmus), delayed development, spastic paralysis, cerebellar ataxia and dystonia. These symptoms can usually begin in early infancy.

As a potential new therapy, we are preparing for a clinical trial in Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease using “OligoGenie”.

 

 

■ Target 2: Spinal Cord Injury

 

Spinal Cord Injury is a serious medical condition caused by sports, daily activities or traffic accidents. When myelin sheath is damaged by the above reasons, electrical signal wouldn’t be transmitted because of electric leakage. This can lead to lifelong disabilities. In Japan, there are over one hundred thousand people in the chronic phase of traumatic spinal cord injury and half of them have been forced to use a wheelchair or bedridden. As a cell therapy product for spinal cord injury, when OligoGenie are transplanted in a damaged area, they are thought to be effective for improving their symptoms.

 

Effect of OligoGenie on: 　
　- differentiation into oligodendrocytes and making new myelin sheats 　
　- promoting development and regeneration of neural axons by expressing polysialic acid on its cell-surface 　
　- cell protection by secreting several growth factors