Ajinomoto provides StemFit, a culture medium for regenerative medicine. Cuorips Inc.'s iPSC-derived cardiac muscle cell sheet, ReHeart, received conditional approval from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and was used in treatment for the first time in the world in September 2026.
Ajinomoto has supported research and the practical application of regenerative medicine using iPS cells for many years. It has now come to light that ReHeart, an iPSC-derived cardiac muscle cell sheet developed by Cuorips Inc., received conditional approval and was used in treatment.
StemFit™, supplied by Ajinomoto, particularly StemFit™ AK03N, was used to culture ReHeart. A stable supply of the culture medium and quality control are among the factors supporting the practical application of regenerative medicine.
An estimated 720,000 people in Japan have severe heart failure, the condition covered by the treatment, and definitive treatment is difficult in many cases other than heart transplantation. A clinical trial involving transplantation of iPSC-derived cardiac muscle cell sheets confirmed improvements in symptoms, marking a step toward practical application beyond the research stage.
The company has indicated plans to expand culture capacity and develop new products, with a view to the practical application and commercialization of regenerative medicine centered on StemFit™. The Ajinomoto Group has explained that it aims to improve patients' quality of life through growth in the healthcare sector.