The operators of a pair of private hospital networks, one in Japan and the other in South Korea, signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on research into regenerative medicine, the work ranging from education activities to clinical applications.
The MOU was signed by the chairmen of Otsubo Medical of Japan and CHA Health systems of South Korea, each an operator of several private hospitals, according to Nikkei.
The two companies agreed to conduct joint clinical trials using induced pluripotent stem cells. CHA has already conducted clinical trials involving embryonic stem cells and has been working on iPS cell treatments.
For its part, Otsubo has been engaged with other Japan institutions in their landmark work in regenerative medicine, drawing on previous experience with organ transplants and artificial organs.
Japan has poured significant R&D funds and efforts into regenerative medicine and has seen success such as a recent listing by SanBio on the Tokyo Exchange and failure in a scandal on faked research in stem cells by the prestigious Riken Institute.
- here's the story from Nikkei