Abstract
NepicⓇ is an autologous cultured corneal epithelium for treatment of limbal stem cell deficiency approved in 2020 as the 1st regenerative medicine product in the ophthalmology field of Japan. Japan Tissue Engineering Co., Ltd. （J-TEC） has introduced the techniques developed by Prof. G. Pellegrini, a world authority on stem cell research, and established the manufacturing method of cultured corneal epithelium. Cells （enzymatically） isolated from patient’s own limbal tissue are cultured to produce the finished cultured corneal epithelium with maintaining corneal epithelial stem cells. Corneal epithelial stem cells from NepicⓇ provide corneal epithelial cells after transplantation and recover homeostasis of patient’s corneal epithelium.
