Japan Cell Therapy Hopes Hit By HeartSheet Full Approval Hurdles

Despite initial promise, a novel autologous cell transplant therapy for severe heart failure has faced multiple challenges in gaining full approval in Japan, potentially providing learnings for other developers of regenerative medicines.

HeartSheet was heart to provide a new treatment option for severe heart failure to avoid heart transplant.
HeartSheet a new option for severe heart failure in Japan but challenges abounded • Source: Shutterstock

A novel regenerative medicine for a severe cardiovascular disease indication initially granted a conditional approval in Japan almost a decade ago has hit a roadblock due to challenges meeting the terms of this regulatory approach.

Major Japanese medtech firm Terumo Corporation is now preparing to withdraw from the market HeartSheet, an autologous skeletal myoblast-derived cell sheet conditionally approved and launched in 2015 for severe heart failure due to ischemic

Eligible recipients must have New York Heart Association class III or IV heart failure, with a resting left ventricular ejection fraction of over 35%

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