Addressing unmet medical needs.
Joint Research Keio University×U-Factor
- Theme
- Dry Eye Glaucoma
- Study Start
Research Background
In recent years, the prolonged use of computers and smartphones has led to an increase in people experiencing eye dryness and fatigue, often attributed to dry eye syndrome. This condition causes small, punctate injuries to spread across the eye's surface, leading to light scattering, glare, dryness, and blurred vision. It is estimated that 22 million people in Japan suffer from dry eye syndrome (Uchino M, et al. Am J Ophthalmol, 2013).
Additionally, glaucoma consistently ranks as a leading cause of visual impairment in Japan and is particularly significant in an aging society. A large-scale epidemiological study reported that the prevalence of glaucoma among Japanese individuals aged 40 and over is approximately 5%, or 1 in 20 people. Glaucoma involves damage to the optic nerve, which transmits visual stimuli to the brain, resulting in visual field impairment as a symptom (Suzuki Y, et al. Ophthalmology 2006).
This study will involve a collaborative research effort using U-Factor® solution to evaluate its effects on these conditions.
Initiation of Basic Research on Ophthalmic Diseases Using Stem Cell Culture Supernatant
In this joint research project, we will use deciduous tooth pulp stem cell culture supernatant developed by Professor Emeritus Minoru Ueda from Nagoya University's Graduate School of Medicine. Professor Ueda, a leading authority on stem cell culture supernatant research, serves as a director at U-Factor. We will provide the stem cell culture supernatant developed by U-Factor to the Department of Ophthalmology at Keio University School of Medicine to conduct various basic studies on the treatment of ophthalmic diseases such as dry eye.
The deciduous tooth-derived stem cell culture supernatant contains more growth factors compared to supernatants derived from other mesenchymal sources such as adipose tissue or bone marrow. It is expected to have a significant effect on activating endogenous stem cells within the body.
- U-Factor
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- Provision of Funding and Stem Cell Culture Supernatant Necessary for Research
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine
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- Consideration and Setting of Research Themes
- Practical Implementation of Research
Patent Application Filed Jointly with Keio University for Dry Eye Treatment Drug
In a joint research project that began in February 2022, we have made an invention related to a liquid formulation that could serve as a treatment or preventive agent for ophthalmic diseases such as dry eye. With the backdrop of an aging society and increased IT use, the prevalence of dry eye is rising annually. It has been reported that the prevalence rate in Japan is 17% for men and 30% for women (A Hanyuda, et al. Ocul. Surf. 2021). In experiments using animal models, the deciduous tooth-derived pulp stem cell culture supernatant demonstrated effects such as tear fluid retention, inhibition of corneal epithelial damage, and suppression of ocular surface inflammation. We have filed a patent for this liquid as a treatment and preventive agent for dry eye.
- Title of Invention
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- Therapeutic or Prophylactic Agent for Dry Eye
- Applicant
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- U-Factor Co., Ltd., Keio University
- Inventors
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- Yu-Jing Shu, Keigo Hori (U-Factor Co., Ltd.)
- Mari Sato, Eisuke Shimizu, Yoko Ogawa, Kazuno Negishi (Keio University)
- Application Number
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- Patent Application 2023-121228
- Filing Date
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- July 26, 2023
Entered into Joint Research Agreement on Glaucoma
In this joint research project, we plan to provide U-Factor® solution to the Department of Ophthalmology at Keio University School of Medicine to conduct various basic experiments related to glaucoma. Based on the insights and experimental results obtained from our joint research on dry eye, we aim to verify the efficacy of U-Factor® solution for glaucoma, which currently lacks effective treatments. We intend to file a patent in the coming years.
- U-Factor
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- Provision of Funding and Stem Cell Culture Supernatant Necessary for Research
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine
-
- Consideration and Setting of Research Themes
- Practical Implementation of Research