Announcement of the conclusion of an agreement between the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (KIKEN), Osaka University, and Rohto Pharmaceutical
regarding the development of a medical device aimed at repairing meniscus injuries.
April 19, 2024
ROHTO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture; President: Masafumi Sugimoto; hereinafter "Rohto Pharmaceutical") and Osaka University (Suita City, Osaka Prefecture; President: Shojiro Nishio; hereinafter "Osaka University") have entered into a licensing agreement between Rohto Pharmaceutical and Osaka University, and a manufacturing outsourcing agreement between Rohto Pharmaceutical and Koken Co., Ltd. (Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; President: Yuzo Tarumi; hereinafter "Koken"), regarding the development of a medical device aimed at repairing meniscus injuries.
Background and Aims
Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., guided by its comprehensive management vision "Connect for Well-being," continues to take on challenges in various healthcare fields, not limited to its existing areas, in order to support the well-being of each individual.
The meniscus is a cartilage-like tissue located between the femur and tibia in the knee joint, and it acts as a cushion. It is known to be damaged when the knee is subjected to excessive stress, and its ability to heal naturally is limited. When the meniscus is damaged, symptoms such as pain and catching occur when bending and extending the knee, and it can also negatively affect walking and exercise for a long period of time, potentially leading to osteoarthritis of the knee in the future. Meniscus repair surgery or meniscectomy are performed for meniscus damage, but there are cases in which sufficient repair cannot be expected, and it is thought that in many cases the meniscus tissue deteriorates in the long term, and pain recurs.
The Department of Sports Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University (Professor Nakata Lab) and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Sciences (KOKEN) have been conducting research and development to solve the treatment challenges associated with meniscus injuries. KOKEN has many years of experience and a proven track record in the development and manufacture of medical devices using atelocollagen. Based on this knowledge, they have succeeded in developing an atelocollagen material (hereinafter referred to as "this material") that solves the treatment challenges of meniscus injuries, and have been conducting non-clinical and clinical research at the Department of Sports Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University. Based on these achievements, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has decided to proceed with discussions with regulatory authorities under the above agreement with the aim of conducting clinical trials and sales of this material.
Currently, there are no materials in Japan that have obtained manufacturing and marketing approval as stipulated in the Act on Securing Quality, Efficacy and Safety of Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, etc., for repairing meniscus injuries. We hope that by developing this material as a medical device, we can provide a new treatment option for patients with meniscus injuries.
Osaka University (National University Corporation)
About Takaken Co., Ltd.
| CEO |
President and Representative Director Yuzo Tarumi |
| location |
1-4-14 Koraku, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo |
| Business details |
Development, manufacturing, and sales of medical devices, educational medical models, cosmetic ingredients, and research reagents. |
| URL |
https://www.kokenmpc.co.jp/ |