Japanese regulators give Athersys permission to start stem cell trial

Story excerpt provided by Crain’s Cleveland Business.

Written by Chuck Soder.

Athersys Inc. has received permission to begin testing its adult stem cell therapy on stroke patients in Japan — a country that could be key to the Cleveland company’s future.

If MultiStem performs well in the Japanese clinical trial, regulators there will give Athersys and its commercialization partner, Healios K.K., permission to begin selling the therapy in Japan, CEO Gil Van Bokkelen stated in an email message forwarded to Crain’s. That approval would give Athersys access to “a multibillion dollar market opportunity” while also “redefining stroke care in Japan,” he stated.

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Originally published September 12, 2016.