慶応大学のiPS脊髄損傷治療、最長4年で長期の安全性を確認

Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. Today is July twenty-first. Today's story comes from medical science. Keio University reported that its clinical study transplanting cells made from iPS cells into spinal cord injury patients showed no serious side effects over the long term. Let's listen.

Now let's break it down, sentence by sentence.

On July twenty-first, a Keio University group announced that in its clinical study transplanting cells made from iPS cells into spinal cord injury patients, no serious side effects were seen over a long period.

It means a side effect — an unwanted reaction to a treatment.

A spinal cord injury damages the nerves inside the backbone, so the body may stop moving or lose feeling — and it's very hard to cure.

It means spinal cord injury.

The research group made cells that become the basis of nerves and transplanted them into four badly injured patients.

It means a transplant — placing cells or an organ into the body.

The first transplant took place in December twenty twenty-one, and it was the first attempt in the world.

It means an attempt, a trial of something new.

The cells were transplanted in the so-called subacute phase, about two to four weeks after the injury.

It means the subacute phase — the period soon after an injury, but not the very first days.

After that, while continuing rehabilitation, the patients were observed for up to four years.

It means the progress or course of something over time.

As a result, the transplanted cells did not turn into a cancer-like tumor, and the condition of the nerves did not worsen either.

It means a tumor — an abnormal lump of cells.

Professor Okano Hideyuki, who led the research, says long-term safety has been confirmed.

It means safety, the quality of being safe.

Some of the four were even able to move their limbs a little, showing signs that feeling and body function improved.

It means feeling or sensation.

However, because there were only four patients, whether it truly works is not yet clearly known.

It means an effect, or how well something works.

From here, a company born out of Keio University plans to take over the trials needed to get national approval.

It means a clinical trial, done to get a treatment approved.

In addition, from twenty twenty-seven, a new trial is planned for chronic-phase patients, long after their injury.

It means the chronic phase — a long time after the injury first happened.

Let's listen to the whole story one more time.

Time for a short quiz. Listen and try to answer.

Patients with a spinal cord injury.

Four patients, observed for up to four years.

No — no serious side effects or tumors were seen, and long-term safety was confirmed.

That's all for today. On July twenty-first, Keio University reported that its world-first clinical study, transplanting cells made from iPS cells into four spinal cord injury patients, showed no serious side effects and no tumors over as long as four years. Some patients even regained a little movement and feeling, though with only four patients the real effect is still unclear. A university startup will now take over the approval trials, and a new trial for chronic patients is planned from twenty twenty-seven. Thanks for listening, and see you tomorrow.