Athersys, Inc., a biotechnology company based in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Japanese pharmaceutical company, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., have formed a partnership and license agreement to exclusively develop and commercialize MultiStem cell therapy for ischemic stroke in Japan. Athersys’ proprietary cell therapy product, MultiStem, is currently being evaluated in a Phase II clinical study for ischemic stroke in the United States and Europe, and Athersys has begun preparations for clinical development in Japan, including engagement with the Japanese health authority.

Multistem is an off-the-shelf” stem cell product that can be manufactured in a scalable manner, may be stored for years in frozen form, and is administered without tissue matching or the need for immune suppression. Athersys has forged strategic partnerships and a broad network of collaborations to develop the MultiStem cell therapy for a variety of indications, with an initial focus in the neurological, cardiovascular, and inflammatory and immune disorder areas.

Source: Athersys