EXORPHIA's Groundbreaking Research Earns Top Award at JSAR 2025

EXORPHIA's Major Achievement at the JSAR Annual Meeting 2025

In October 2025, EXORPHIA, a biotechnology company based in Tokyo and led by CEO Koji Kuchiishi, proudly announced that its Head of Drug Discovery Research, Izumi Kaneko, has been honored with the prestigious Yagimachi Ryuuzo Award for the "Best Presentation" at the 28th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (JSAR). This accolade is reserved for members who have made significant contributions to the advancement of assisted reproductive technology (ART).

Presentation Title

The awarded research presentation was titled: "Effects of Umbilical Cord MSC Exosomes on Embryonic Development and Ovarian Function in Aging and POF Model Mice". This presentation took place during the first session of the conference, focusing on new insights and applications in reproductive medicine.

Research Overview

The research centered on the application of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell exosomes (MSC-EVs) in infertility treatment. The study sought to investigate whether MSC-EVs could provide a new therapeutic strategy to address decreased ovarian function due to aging and premature ovarian failure (POF/POI), which are common causes of poor ART outcomes.

Using an in vitro fertilization model, the addition of EVs to the culture medium significantly improved the rates of blastocyst formation and hatching, with notable enhancements in embryo quality especially observed in embryos from older mice.

Advanced imaging analysis, conducted in collaboration with Elpixel Corporation, allowed the visualization and quantification of the mechanisms through which EVs contribute to embryo quality improvement.

Furthermore, multiple active protein components found in EVs were identified, shedding light on their potential roles in embryo development and structural integrity.

In the POF mouse model, administration of EVs demonstrated a recovery effect on ovarian function and fertility that had been diminished by chemotherapy, showcasing the therapeutic potential of MSC-EVs.

Future Prospects

The findings from this research hold promise for:

- Increasing pregnancy rates in ART treatments for patients aged 40 and above.
- Establishing new embryo evaluation indices utilizing imaging analysis technologies.

These advancements could lead to novel clinical applications in reproductive medicine.

Starting in 2026, clinical research is set to commence in university hospitals and various ART clinics. Medical institutions interested in participating in clinical trials are encouraged to contact EXORPHIA.

Support Information

This research is supported by NEDO’s Deep Tech Startup Support Project (DTSU) starting from the 2024 fiscal year.

About EXORPHIA

EXORPHIA is a biopharmaceutical company tackling global healthcare challenges in infertility, inflammatory diseases, and infections through drug discovery and manufacturing technologies based on extracellular vesicles (EVs). The company is dedicated to uncovering the multifaceted functions of EVs and developing a new drug modality that balances reproducibility, safety, and physiological effects.