Apheresis therapy for separating disease-causing factors: Challenging intractable diseases through the development of adsorbers targeting specific illnesses
Apheresis refers to the technique of separating specific components from the blood.
Japan Hemotech Co., Ltd. was established in August 2019 with the aim of developing new adsorbers capable of removing disease-causing factors. Through the expansion of apheresis-related medical treatments, the company seeks to contribute to the treatment of various diseases.
We aim to achieve a society where everyone can access apheresis-related medical treatments without financial burden by pursuing cost improvements in adsorbents. Additionally, we aim to explore diseases for which apheresis therapy has not yet been established, and strive for the development and commercialization of new adsorbers to improve the treatment of rare diseases.
Drug therapy is a common approach for treating diseases, but “new drug development requires enormous development costs. Given the high costs and the scale of tens of thousands of patients, it is challenging to embark on new drug development. In the case of rare or intractable diseases with a small number of patients, drugs that selectively target that particular disease are not actively pursued for development,” said Manager Akasu, describing the current situation.
For such diseases, the blood purification method used in medical practice is blood purification that removes disease-causing factors from the blood. In addition to hemodialysis, which serves 350,000 domestic patients in Japan, apheresis therapies such as plasma exchange, plasma component separation, and blood adsorption are conducted for immunological disorders.
The company, equipped with knowledge and experience in this field, has decided to embark on the development of new apheresis therapies targeting severe diseases for which there are no effective drugs. We will utilize the simplest form of apheresis therapy, known as blood adsorption, in this endeavor.
Recently, there have been advancements in analytical technology as well. “We have also come to better understand the target substances that need to be removed, including the causal agents involved in the onset pathway of a certain disease.” said Manager Akasu.
In addition to hemodialysis, which serves 350,000 domestic patients in Japan, apheresis therapies such as plasma exchange, plasma component separation, and blood adsorption are conducted for immunological disorders.
The challenge lies in the barriers of Japan’s domestic pharmaceutical laws. For this reason, “we plan to develop adsorbers targeting specific diseases not only in Japan but also in overseas markets, including China. Particularly in China, where the history of plasma exchange therapy is relatively short, and there is a high interest in organ transplantation,” President Hasegawa said. We aim to accumulate achievements overseas ahead of time.
Alongside this, we will also review the materials and structures of existing adsorbents already available in the market, including those from major manufacturers. By improving cost-effectiveness, we will explore opportunities for business substitution with our current products.
Hasegawa, the company president, stated, “First, we will enter markets with our currently exisiting products to establish our business base swiftly. Then, we will introduce new adsorbents and expand our business.” She aims to lower the cost of disposable adsorbers, which are said to cost hundreds of thousands of yen per unit.
As a result, we aim to alleviate usage restrictions under insurance coverage and contribute to the widespread adoption and expansion of apheresis therapy, making it accessible and reassuring for everyone.
Business overview: Development of adsorbents that removes disease factors from blood
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Japan Hemotech Co., Ltd.
NANOBIC2007 7-7 Shin-Kawasaki, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa
BUSINESS DETAILS : Developing a new adsorbent that can remove factors that cause disease
URL : https://japanhemotech.com/en
