J-TEC

What J-TEC does

J-TEC (Japan Tissue Engineering Co., Ltd.) is Japan's first and leading regenerative medicine company, founded in 1999 in Gamagori, Aichi Prefecture, and publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange JASDAQ Growth market under ticker 7774 since December 2007. The company operates as a member of the Teijin Group and has obtained five approved autologous cell-based regenerative medicine products covering skin (JACE), cartilage (JACC), cornea (Nepic), oral mucosal epithelium (Ocural), and melanocyte-containing skin (JACEMIN) — representing 5 of 20 approved regenerative medicine products in Japan. Core technology is autologous tissue engineering using the patient's own cells, leveraging the proprietary 3T3-J2 feeder cell system licensed from Harvard, temperature-responsive culture dishes licensed from the University of Modena, and cell sheet technology licensed from Osaka University. Over 3,000 patients have been treated cumulatively across the product portfolio.

The company operates three business segments: (1) Regenerative Medicine Products — direct sales of custom-made autologous products to hospitals across all 47 Japanese prefectures, with ophthalmology products (Nepic, Ocural) distributed through NIDEK; (2) CDMO/CRO Contract Services — providing development, manufacturing, regulatory, and post-market surveillance capabilities to third-party regenerative medicine developers; and (3) LabCyte research-use human cultured tissue products (EPI-MODEL, CORNEA-MODEL) serving pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and research institutions as alternatives to animal testing. All operations are vertically integrated within the Gamagori headquarters facility. Pricing operates under Japan's national health insurance system with patient co-pays capped by the high-cost medical care system (e.g., approximately ¥60,000–250,000/month for JACC osteoarthritis treatment).

The company's most significant recent strategic move is the May 2025 approval of JACC for osteoarthritis of the knee, with insurance coverage beginning January 2026, which materially expands the addressable patient population. Pipeline expansion includes Phase III allogeneic cultured epidermis for degree II burns and CAR-T cell therapy collaboration with Nagoya University. J-TEC's CEO serves as chairman of FIRM (Forum for Regenerative Medicine Innovation), the primary regenerative medicine industry association in Japan, reinforcing the company's influence over industry standards and regulatory direction.

Name

J-TEC

Legal name

株式会社ジャパン・ティッシュエンジニアリング

Website

https://jpte.co.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

J-TEC (Japan Tissue Engineering Co., Ltd.) is Japan's leading regenerative medicine company, developing and commercializing five approved autologous cell-based products for burns, cartilage defects, corneal disease, and vitiligo, alongside CDMO/CRO and research tissue services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regenerative Medicine Products

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Cell Therapy Developers (Autologous) (HLAAABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Stem Cell–Based Regenerative Therapies (HLAAAGAA), Cartilage, Bone & Musculoskeletal Regeneration (HLAAAGAH), Cell Therapy Manufacturing Services (GMP, autologous/allogeneic) (HLAAAKAC)

Keywords

• Regenerative medicine
• Tissue engineering
• Autologous cell therapy
• Cultured epidermis products
• Cell sheet technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Gamagori

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Regenerative Medicine Product Sales: Sale of approved autologous regenerative medicine products (JACE, JACC, Nepic, Ocural, JACEMIN) to medical institutions. Products are custom-made for each patient using their own cells, representing the core revenue stream.
2. CDMO/CRO Services (再生医療受託事業): Contract development and manufacturing services for regenerative medicine developers, leveraging J-TEC's experience in R&D, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, and post-market surveillance.
3. Lab Site Products (ラボサイト事業): Sale of research-use human cultured tissue products (LabCyte series) including skin and cornea models for use in drug development, cosmetics testing, and research by companies and universities as alternatives to animal testing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

J-TEC develops, manufactures, and sells autologous cell-based regenerative medicine products (cultured epidermis, cartilage, corneal and oral mucosal epithelium) for treating severe burns, congenital skin disorders, cartilage defects, osteoarthritis, and corneal epithelial stem cell deficiency. The company also provides contract development and manufacturing (CDMO/CRO) services to other regenerative medicine developers and sells LabCyte research-use human tissue models as alternatives to animal testing for pharmaceutical and cosmetics customers.

Product overview

J-TEC operates three business segments: (1) Regenerative Medicine Products — five approved autologous cell-based products: JACE (autologous cultured epidermis for burns/skin conditions), JACC (autologous cultured cartilage for knee defects/osteoarthritis), Nepic (autologous corneal epithelium for eye surface disorders), Ocural (autologous oral mucosal epithelium for eye surface disorders), and JACEMIN (melanocyte-containing cultured epidermis for vitiligo); (2) CDMO/CRO contract services supporting other regenerative medicine developers; and (3) LabCyte research-use human cell products (EPI-MODEL, CORNEA-MODEL) used as animal-testing alternatives by pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and consumer goods companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LabCyte: Research use human cultured tissue products for research and testing purposes, serving as an alternative to animal testing
• 自家培養表皮ジェイス (JACE)
• 自家培養軟骨ジャック (JACC)
• 自家培養角膜上皮ネピック (Nepic)
• 自家培養口腔粘膜上皮オキュラル (Ocural)
• メラノサイト含有自家培養表皮ジャスミン (JACEMIN)

Products and services

• Autologous Cultured Epidermis JACE (自家培養表皮ジェイス)
• Autologous Cultured Cartilage JACC (自家培養軟骨ジャック)
• Autologous Cultured Corneal Epithelium Nepic (自家培養角膜上皮ネピック)
• Autologous Cultured Oral Mucosal Epithelium Ocural (自家培養口腔粘膜上皮オキュラル)
• Melanocyte-containing Autologous Cultured Epidermis JACEMIN (メラノサイト含有自家培養表皮ジャスミン)
• LabCyte EPI-MODEL
• LabCyte CORNEA-MODEL
• Regenerative Medicine CDMO/CRO Services (再生医療受託事業)

Quantifiable outcome

• J-TEC is the #1 regenerative medicine company in Japan with 5 of 20 nationally approved regenerative medicine products
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 名古屋大学 (Nagoya University)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021J-TEC collaborates with Nagoya University on clinical research for CAR-T cell therapy targeting CD19-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia and malignant lymphoma. Nagoya University conducts clinical studies using J-TEC's autologous CAR-T cell technology.
• 再生医療イノベーションフォーラム (FIRM — Forum for Regenerative Medicine Innovation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021J-TEC is a founding board member (representative director/chairman) of FIRM, the primary industry association for regenerative medicine in Japan. J-TEC's CEO Hatate serves as the association's chairman. FIRM promotes industry standards, regulatory harmonization, and international collaboration for regenerative medicine in Japan.
• 経済産業省 (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry — METI)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021J-TEC's work was featured in METI's BIO ECONOMY 2030 initiative as a case study of Japanese companies leveraging biotechnology. J-TEC participates in government-led initiatives to promote the bioeconomy and regenerative medicine industry in Japan.
• NGUラブリッジ名古屋 (NGU Llavie Nagoya)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021J-TEC sponsors NGU Llavie Nagoya, a women's football (soccer) team based in Aichi Prefecture that competes in the Nadeshiko League. J-TEC holds 'J-TEC Match Day' events at team games to promote regenerative medicine awareness, featuring the 'Cartilage Koru-Koru Exercise' and company outreach materials.
• 株式会社ニデック (NIDEK Co., Ltd.)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020NIDEK serves as the exclusive distributor for J-TEC's ophthalmology regenerative medicine products — Nepic (autologous cultured corneal epithelium) and Ocural (autologous cultured oral mucosal epithelium). NIDEK handles sales promotion and distribution to eye clinics and hospitals across Japan.
• 日本医療研究開発機構 (AMED — Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016AMED provides funding and support for regenerative medicine development projects. J-TEC received AMED support for the development of allogeneic cultured epidermis for degree II burns, currently in clinical trials.
• 蒲郡市 / 蒲郡再生医療産業化推進委員会 (Gamagori City / Gamagori Regenerative Medicine Industrialization Promotion Committee)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015J-TEC collaborates with Gamagori City to promote 'regenerative medicine town' initiatives. The partnership includes public lectures, children's workshops, science education programs, and regional regeneration efforts. J-TEC has participated in science experiment workshops for elementary school students at the Gamagori Sea Life Science Museum since 2010. The city and company co-host public lectures and community events to promote regenerative medicine awareness.
• 大阪大学 (Osaka University, Nishida Laboratory)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013J-TEC partnered with Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine (Professor Kohji Nishida) to develop and commercialize the autologous cultured oral mucosal epithelium (Ocural). J-TEC conducted company-sponsored clinical trials following physician-led trials at Osaka University, leading to regulatory approval in 2021.
• Howard Green (Harvard Medical School, deceased 2015)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2013J-TEC received the 3T3-J2 cell line and Green-type epidermal cell culture technology from Professor Howard Green of Harvard Medical School for the development and manufacture of autologous cultured epidermis. This foundational technology enabled J-TEC's first product, JACE, approved in 2007.
• Michele De Luca and Graziella Pellegrini (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2013J-TEC licensed epithelial stem cell culture technology from Professor Michele De Luca and Dr. Graziella Pellegrini for the development of corneal and epidermal products. These researchers pioneered the field of epithelial stem cell biology and their foundational discoveries enabled J-TEC's corneal and skin regeneration technologies.
• 帝人グループ (Teijin Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999J-TEC is a member of the Teijin Group, having been founded in 1999 as a regenerative medicine venture. Teijin is a major Japanese healthcare and materials company that provides group synergies and backing. J-TEC operates as an independent listed subsidiary under the Teijin Group umbrella.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vericel Corporation: US-listed autologous cell therapy company with MACI (autologous cultured cartilage for knee cartilage defects) and Epicel (autologous cultured epidermal grafts for severe burns). Directly comparable to J-TEC across both cartilage and skin autologous product lines with similar regulatory and reimbursement dynamics.
• Healios K.K. Japanese regenerative medicine company developing stem cell-based products (e.g., HLCM051 for acute respiratory distress syndrome). Direct domestic peer operating in the same Japanese regenerative medicine market with similar regulatory pathway (FIRM member) and competing for hospital adoption and government support.
• Holostem Terapie Avanzate: Italian biotech specializing in autologous epithelial stem cell therapies including Holoclar (cultured corneal epithelium for limbal stem cell deficiency), directly comparable to J-TEC's Nepic. Both companies developed their corneal products from the Pellegrini/De Luca epithelial stem cell technology.
• Organogenesis Holdings: Regenerative medicine company with products including Apligraf (living cellular construct for skin wounds) and other skin/wound healing therapies. Comparable as a commercial-stage regenerative medicine company with established sales channels to hospitals and outpatient wound care centers.

Broad incumbents

• Astellas Pharma: Major Japanese pharmaceutical company with regenerative medicine investments including Universal Cells acquisition and iPSC-derived cell therapy programs. Comparable as a Japanese pharma incumbent that competes for the same hospital accounts, talent, and regulatory influence in Japan's regenerative medicine market.
• Takeda Pharmaceutical: Largest Japanese pharmaceutical company with growing cell therapy and regenerative medicine interests (including alliances with academic institutions and TiGenix acquisition). Comparable as a major Japanese healthcare player with overlapping interest in regenerative medicine commercialization and shared regulatory/reimbursement environment.
• FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics: Japanese-headquartered (FUJIFILM subsidiary) cell therapy and iPSC technology developer with commercial iPSC-derived products and CDMO services. Comparable as a Japanese-headquartered regenerative medicine and cell therapy CDMO with overlapping customer base in the domestic regenerative medicine developer market.

Others

• CellGenix (a Sartorius brand): Manufacturer of cell and gene therapy manufacturing materials including cytokines, growth factors, and cell culture reagents used in autologous and allogeneic cell therapy production. Comparable as a supplier enabling regenerative medicine manufacturing workflows, potentially serving as a vendor or competitor in the cell processing supply chain.

Emerging players

• Mesoblast Limited: Australian-listed cell therapy company developing mesenchymal stem cell-based regenerative medicine products for inflammatory and cardiovascular conditions. Comparable as a publicly traded regenerative medicine company with multiple cell therapy programs, though focused on allogeneic rather than autologous approaches.
• Athersys Inc. Clinical-stage regenerative medicine company developing MultiStem cell therapy for multiple indications including acute respiratory and inflammatory conditions. Comparable as a public cell therapy company, though focused on allogeneic multipotent adult progenitor cells rather than autologous tissue engineering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JTEC_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about J-TEC