[Progress towards development of a platelet transfusion product employing iPS cells]

Platelet transfusion is indispensable for current medical treatments of hematological disorders. However, alternative platelet sources are urgently needed due to the inadequate donor blood supply, particularly of HLA/HPA-matched platelets. The advent of 'iPS cell (iPSC) technology' was considered in light of this problem, which yielded the idea of iPSC-derived platelet production. The safety of iPSC-derived cell therapy is critical, but platelets can be gamma-irradiated prior to their use. Thus, there is an advantage in terms of clinical application. The remaining developmental aim of the in vitro iPSC-derived platelet generation process is to further scale up industrialized culture and production for the packaging of washed-type platelet concentrates, and a laboratory scale production system has already been optimized in preparation for meeting this goal.