By Shiyori Iwase / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer
Tokyo-based biotechnology startup SanBio Co. announced on Wednesday that it will begin administering Akuugo, a regenerative cell medicine for treating traumatic brain injury, to patients as early as this autumn. This will mark the first time the medicine is used in clinical settings since the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry included it under public health insurance coverage.
Akuugo is a regenerative cell medicine produced by processing and culturing cells from the bone marrow of healthy donors. It is injected into the brain to support the regeneration of damaged neural cells. The ministry granted Akuugo conditional and time-limited approval in 2024. Then in May of this year it decided to cover it under public health insurance, setting the drug price at 72.71 million yen.
The company must collect case data on the therapy's safety and efficacy and apply for full approval by 2031. This administration marks the first step toward that goal. According to the company, this will be the world's first practical application of a drug designed to promote brain regeneration.
The company plans to administer the treatment at 20 to 30 medical institutions going forward. "We are pleased that it has been covered by public health insurance, reducing the burden on patients," said President and CEO Keita Mori at a press conference. "We want to help many patients who had given up on treatment."
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June 11, 2026 05:58 ET (09:58 GMT)
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