Company Profile
| Name | iPS Academia Japan, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Established | June 25, 2008 |
| Accredited TLO | Accredited as of January 22, 2016 as an official technology licensing organization under the "Law for Promoting University-Industry Technology Transfer" |
| Location | 207 International Science Innovation Building East Wing Kyoto University 36-1 Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501 Japan |
| Capital | JPY 100 million |
| President & CEO | Shuzo Kudo |
| Director | Shisuke Morisawa Ph.D. (Professor emeritus, Kyoto University & Assistant Director, Center for iPS Research and Application, Kyoto University) |
| Director | Hiroshi Seno M.D.Ph.D. (Professor, Graduate School of Medicine Kyoto University & Deputy director-general, Office of Society Academia Collaboration for Innovation of Kyoto University) |
| Corporate Auditor | Yoshito Fujikawa (Attorney/patent Lawyer, Yodoyabashi & Yamagami LPC) |
| Corporate Auditor | Takuko Sawada (Executive Vice-President of Kyoto University for Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration, Director and Vice Chairman of the Board, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. ) |
| Scientific Adviser | Shinya Yamanaka M.D.Ph.D. (Director emeritus, Center for iPS Cells Research and Application, Kyoto University, Professor, Kyoto University & Representative Director, CiRA Foundation) |
| Business description |
|
Our History
before the foundation
2005
First iPS cell basic patent application filed in Japan
First iPS cell basic patent application was filed in Japan, based on which its corresponding international application (PCT application) was filed in the following year.
2006
Mouse iPS cells announced
Professor Shinya Yamanaka’s group reported the establishment of mouse iPS cells by introducing 4 factors, Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc, into mouse skin cells in the journal “Cell.”
2007
Human iPS cells announced
Professor Shinya Yamanaka’s group reported the establishment of human iPS cells by introducing 4 factors,Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc, into human skin cells in the journal “Cell.” Professor James Thomson’s group also reported human iPS cells established with a different method in another journal on the same day
ⓒCenter for iPS Cell Research and Application,
Kyoto University
ⓒCenter for iPS Cell Research and Application,
Kyoto University
after the foundation
2008
iPS Academia Japan established
iPS Academia Japan, Inc. was established in Kyoto on June 25, 2008 to promote the transfer of iPS cell-related technologies to industry for its commercialization. We started as an affiliate of Kyoto University with a mission to share the fruit of iPS cell research for the good of all humanity.
World's first iPS cell basic patent granted in Japan
The world's first iPS cell basic patent was granted in Japan. So far, 8 basic patents (our ref.: AJ001) have been granted in Japan. Further, their corresponding patents have been granted in more than 30 countries and regions worldwide.
ⓒCenter for iPS Cell Research and Application,
Kyoto University
2009
First license agreement signed
Our first license agreement was entered into with ReproCELL, Inc. Since then, our licensees have gradually increased year by year.
2010
First overseas licensing
Our first overseas license agreement was entered into with Cellular Dynamics International, Inc. (currently Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics, Inc.). iPS cell technology raised interest not only in Japan where iPS cells were invented, but also in countries where more ES cell research was conducted, which, as a result, increased foreign licensees.
2011
iPierian patents assigned to Kyoto University
The patents of iPierian, Inc. were assigned to Kyoto University to avoid a potential patent dispute in the U.S.A. In return, we granted to iPierian a license under Kyoto University’s basic patents and the former iPierian patents.
2012
Professor Yamanaka awarded Nobel Prize
Professor Shinya Yamanaka and Sir John B. Gurdon were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery that mature cells could be reprogrammed to become pluripotent.
2013
Patents from 10 academic institutions
300 patents available for licensing
Increasing numbers of patents were licensed not only from Kyoto University but from other universities and research institutions. The patents related to applications such as differentiation methods began to increase.
2014
iPS Academia Japan reorganized
A part of our business was transferred to iPS Portal, Inc. Our business previously included research, sales of cells, etc., but since then, we have been specializing in patent licensing.
2015
Relocated to Kyoto University campus
We were relocated to a new building in Yoshida Campus of Kyoto University.
2016
Became an Accredited TLO in Japan
We became an Accredited TLO in Japan by the authorization of both the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
2017
500 patents available for licensing
We handled more patents from our licensors, and total 500 patents became available for licensing.
2018
10th anniversary
The year 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of our company foundation.
2019
Over 200 licensees worldwide
We achieved license agreements with over 200 entities worldwide. They are from various fields such as pharmaceuticals, regents, chemicals, foods, cosmetics, CROs, medical devices, research instruments, and more. From the small bio-venture start-ups to large entities. It shows the expansion of iPS cell technologies in many ways.
2020
Became a subsidiary of Kyoto University
Kyoto University acquires all voting stocks of iPS Academia Japan, Inc. in August 2020, and iPS Academia Japan, Inc. became its subsidiary.
