High quality iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes which are differentiated under xeno-free and cytokine free conditions

Naohiro Makita, President, Myoridge Co. Ltd.

Myoridge is a Kyoto University-based startup developing drug discovery tools using iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocytes can be used for two purposes: for regenerative medicine such as transplantation therapy, and for drug discovery tools. The cardiomyocytes we provide have seven features: 1) low-cost, 2) high purity, 3) uniformity between lots, 4) no animal-derived ingredients contained, 5) high mature cardiac marker expression, 6) formation of mature muscle fibers, and 7) high drug responsiveness.
We are a startup founded in 2016 based on technology developed by Dr. Itsunari Minami at Kyoto University. Patents related to the differentiation inducing technology and culture media are owned by Kyoto University. Our cardiomyocytes are high-purity: 93-98% are made of ventricular myocardial cells. Expressions of HERG, KCNQ1, Kir2.1 and other markers are higher than in other products. As disturbance of pulse rates was detected in a cytotoxic test using nifedipine, they are suitable for drug discovery and toxicity tests.

[Mentors' comments]
"In a presentation, you need to clarify who the users are and what will be provided as a product. If you provide your product as a drug discovery tool, you also need to show what types of myocardial cells are present and in what ratio, and whether or not the distribution is uniform." Craig Garner, SPARK Berlin

"You need to demonstrate that expressions of ion-channel markers are higher in your cardiomyocytes than in those of other companies." Sham Nikam, Takeda Pharmaceutical

[Speaker Profile]
He belongs to Kyoto University Graduate School of Engineering. He supported research in a laboratory of Itsunari Minami at iCeMS, Kyoto University. He established Myoridge Co. Ltd. with Shinichi Sueta who is a director, CTO in order to make use of research results of Minami for innovative drug development.
Myoridge Co. Ltd. website: http://myoridge.co.jp/

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