I Peace, Inc. (CEO: Koji Tanabe, https://ipeace.com/), a Palo Alto-based biotech startup focusing on Nobel Prize-winning technology of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) expands its personalized iPSC banking service. I Peace launched its clinical-grade personalized iPSC banking service in 2020 in Japan and has already banked several individuals' iPSCs. The company will collaborate with I'rom Group Co., Ltd. (Japan) to make the service available for clients at every corner of the country. Using this as proof of concept, I Peace plans to launch the iPSC banking service in the U.S. as the next phase of its business expansion.

I Peace is one of the first companies to develop technology for mass manufacturing iPSCs in a closed system, thus drastically increasing iPSCs manufacturing capability while reducing cost. In March 2020, I Peace developed a novel system to mass manufacture clinical-grade iPSCs for cell therapy in a palm-sized closed cassette. The technology is modular and scalable with a small footprint, paving the way for simultaneous mass production of clinical-grade iPSCs from a multitude of donors in a single facility. By 2025, the company plans to produce up to a few thousand lines of clinical-grade iPSCs in a year.

I'rom Group has a network of 2245 hospitals and clinics throughout Japan. The company also provides site management for clinical trials. I'rom Group's high-quality CRC's (clinical research coordinators) ensure ethical and technical standards are met when recruiting clients and collecting blood for iPSC manufacturing.

The collaboration between I Peace and I'rom Group ensures greater accessibility to customers, some of whom may have difficulty traveling to a blood collection site far from their home. The expansion of iPSC banking service is expected not only to provide I Peace with a steady business flow, but also enhance the cell therapy industry as a whole by helping identify diverse cell characteristics that can be utilized for therapy development and drug screening. Although the collaboration with I'rom Group as channel partner is limited to APAC including Japan, I Peace plans to expand the iPSC banking service globally, applying this business model to other markets including the U.S.