U-Factor Co., Ltd., a regenerative medicine startup headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (CEO: Hidehiro Ijima, hereinafter referred to as “U-Factor”), has announced the launch of a joint research project with the Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine (Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Professor: Kazuno Negishi, Part-time Lecturer: Yoko Ogawa, Specially Appointed Lecturer: Eisuke Shimizu, Specially Appointed Assistant Professor: Mari Sato). The joint research, which began on February 1, 2022, will focus on the application of U-Factor’s proprietary Deciduous Tooth Pulp Stem Cell Culture Supernatant*1 (hereinafter referred to as “Stem Cell Culture Supernatant”) in the treatment of dry eye.

U-Factor Co., Ltd., aiming to formulate therapies for various unmet medical needs

1. Background

In recent years, prolonged use of computers and smartphones has led to an increase in people experiencing eye dryness and fatigue, potentially indicating the onset of dry eye. Dry eye is a condition characterized by a destabilization of the tear film due to various factors, leading to discomfort and visual disturbances, and may result in damage to the ocular surface. Patients may experience scattered punctate epithelial erosions on the ocular surface, causing light scatter, photophobia, dry eyes, and blurred vision. It is estimated that approximately 22 million people in Japan suffer from dry eye (Uchino M, et al. Am J Ophthalmol, 2013).

2. Research on Stem Cell Culture Supernatant

The human body is composed of approximately 37 trillion cells, which continuously regenerate to repair damage caused by injury, illness, or aging. Stem cells, which have the unique ability to differentiate into various cell types, play a crucial role in this repair and regeneration process. Recent studies have shown that the Stem Cell Culture Supernatant, secreted during the cultivation of stem cells and containing thousands of growth factors, can promote the regeneration of body tissues, offering therapeutic effects comparable to those achieved by direct stem cell transplantation.
U-Factor, in collaboration with the Department of Ophthalmology at Keio University School of Medicine, will conduct joint research to verify the effectiveness of this Stem Cell Culture Supernatant in treating dry eye symptoms.

3. Overview of the Joint Research

This joint research will utilize the Deciduous Tooth Pulp Stem Cell Culture Supernatant developed by U-Factor’s Director and renowned stem cell researcher, Professor Emeritus Minoru Ueda from Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine. U-Factor will provide the Stem Cell Culture Supernatant to the Department of Ophthalmology at Keio University School of Medicine to conduct fundamental research aimed at treating ophthalmic conditions such as dry eye. The deciduous tooth-derived Stem Cell Culture Supernatant is expected to activate endogenous stem cells more effectively than other mesenchymal stem cell culture supernatants derived from sources such as fat or bone marrow, due to its higher concentration of growth factors.

4. Future Prospects

Through this joint research with Keio University, U-Factor aims to industrialize the Stem Cell Culture Supernatant within a few years. The company is committed to the early realization of new drug development that addresses various unmet medical needs*2.

*1 Deciduous Tooth Pulp Stem Cell Culture Supernatant
This supernatant is obtained during the cultivation process of stem cells and contains a high concentration of cytokines (proteins with physiological effects) secreted by the stem cells. It was first discovered in 2011 by Professor Emeritus Minoru Ueda of Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine. This discovery challenged the conventional belief that only direct stem cell transplantation was effective in regenerative medicine, showing that the supernatant could offer similar therapeutic benefits.

*2 Unmet Medical Needs
Unmet medical needs refer to the strong demand for pharmaceuticals and medical treatments for diseases where effective treatment methods have not yet been established.

5. Company Profiles

U-Factor Co., Ltd.
Established: March 2020
CEO: Hidehiro Ijima
Headquarters: 4-8-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
URL: https://u-factor.com
Business: Focused on developing treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and realizing a world free of Alzheimer’s, U-Factor conducts fundamental research and formulation of Deciduous Tooth Pulp Stem Cell Culture Supernatant developed by Professor Emeritus Minoru Ueda.

Keio University School of Medicine
Established: 1873
Dean: Takashi Kanai
Location: 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
URL: http://www.med.keio.ac.jp/en/

6. Contact Us

For more information, please contact:
Public Relations Department, U-Factor Co., Ltd.
TEL: +81-3-5357-1580
Email: marketing@u-factor.com