Cyfuse Biomedical

Cyfuse Biomedical K.K. is a Japanese regenerative medicine company founded in August 2010 by Koji Kuchiishi and Dr. Koichi Nakayama. The company is built upon the foundational research of Dr. Nakayama from Kyushu University, who developed a proprietary, scaffold-free method for 3D bioprinting. The current CEO is Shizuka Akieda, who joined as a startup member in 2010 with a background in genomics and regenerative medicine research at Kyushu University.

The company's core business revolves around the development, manufacturing, and sale of products for regenerative medicine and drug discovery. Cyfuse's business model is multifaceted, encompassing the sale of its proprietary Bio 3D printers, contract manufacturing of 3D tissue products, and the research and development of cellular products for clinical applications. Its clients primarily consist of universities, research institutions, and pharmaceutical companies.

The firm's platform technology, known as the "Kenzan" or "needle array" method, enables the fabrication of three-dimensional cellular structures without the use of artificial scaffolds like collagen or hydrogel. This technique involves arranging cell aggregates, called spheroids, onto a fine needle array according to a 3D design. The stacked spheroids then fuse together, forming robust, elastic tissue composed solely of cells. This approach is gentler on cells, leading to a higher viability rate compared to other methods.

Cyfuse has commercialized two bio 3D printers based on this technology: the Regenova® and the S-PIKE®. The Regenova, first sold in 2012, is designed to produce 3D cell products like cultured human tissues for research and potential organ regeneration. The S-PIKE® was introduced later for non-clinical applications such as drug screening. These printers are used to develop cellular products for regenerating various tissues, including bone, cartilage, blood vessels, and peripheral nerves. The company has also developed 3D liver structures for drug discovery support, aiming to provide more accurate models for evaluating drug efficacy and toxicity.

Throughout its history, Cyfuse has achieved significant funding milestones, including a Series A round of JPY 540 million in 2013, a Series B of JPY 1.4 billion in 2015, and a Series C of JPY 1.5 billion in 2018. The company has formed strategic partnerships with companies like Shibuya Kogyo for printer development, PHC Corporation, and NSK Ltd. to advance the commercialization of its cellular products.

Keywords: bio 3D printing, regenerative medicine, scaffold-free, tissue engineering, cellular products, Kenzan method, spheroids, needle array, Regenova, S-PIKE, organ regeneration, drug discovery, cell-based therapy, 3D tissue fabrication, biomedical, biotechnology, cell culture, nerve conduits, artificial blood vessels, osteochondral regeneration, liver structures