News from the S-BIO Business Division,
Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.

The "BioStellar^™ Plate", on-chip pump-type multi-organ MPS device is an advanced pharmaceutical evaluation platform aimed at improving the biological reproducibility in drug absorption and metabolism assessment. In the application introduced here, we conducted an intestinal-liver co-culture using human iPS-derived intestinal epithelial cells and hepatocytes derived from humanized liver chimeric mice to evaluate the temporal changes in absorption and metabolism of the drug "(S)-(+)-Clopidogrel Sulfate."
As a result, the drug's absorption, metabolism in hepatocytes, and metabolite formation were observed in stages, suggesting that this intestinal-liver co-culture system more accurately reflects in vivo-like behavior compared to monoculture systems. The BioStellar^™ Plate improves evaluation accuracy with its uniform stirring via the stirrer bar and through material design with minimal drug adsorption. This intestinal-liver co-culture system expands the potential of in vitro models as alternatives to animal experiments and is expected to be utilized as a drug discovery support tool. Moving forward, further optimization and comparison with human clinical data will aim to establish a more versatile evaluation system.

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We exhibited at the 4th CSAHi MPS Hands-On Seminar

At the 4th CSAHi-MPS Hands-on Seminar held at Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., Central Research Laboratories on Friday, August 22, 2025, we gave a product presentation and a demonstration, focusing on our multi-organ MPS platform, BioStellar^™ Plate.

Interest in MPS has been growing in recent years as an alternative to animal testing, a movement triggered by the FDA Modernization Act. At the seminar, we felt the heightened interest through lively discussions about the MPS potential applications in a wide range of fields, including drug discovery, food, and cosmetics.

We will exhibit at The 40th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society
for the Study of Xenobiotics

We will host a booth at the 40th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for the Study of Xenobiotics (October 20-23, at Kyoto International Exhibition Hall "Miyakomesse"). This year's conference theme is " A Crossroad of Innovation, Shaping the Future of Drug Discovery and Pharmacotherapy."

At our booth, we will showcase the "BioStellar^™ Plate," an on-chip pump-based multi-organ MPS device supporting pharmacokinetic research, and the protein low-adsorption container "ProteoSave^®." We warmly invite you to visit us.

I’m Hayasaka from the Marketing and Sales Department of the S-Bio Division. This summer was predicted to be a "once-in-a-decade heatwave," and as expected, record-breaking heat persisted. Even in September, temperatures remain high, with fewer days offering the usual cooling relief of the season.
This prolonged heat may be affecting not only physical health but also dietary habits. The impact of the heatwave has extended to the natural world as well. Prices of vegetables and eggs have risen, casting a negative shadow on daily life. However, there is good news regarding Pacific saury, a symbol of autumn. This year's saury fishing season is said to be more abundant than usual, possibly due to the rise in seawater temperatures caused by the heatwave, which has increased plankton, providing ample food for the saury.
It’s fascinating to see how natural changes unexpectedly influence our dining tables. As the heat is expected to continue, it’s important to enjoy seasonal flavors while recovering from the physical toll and stress caused by the heat. This year, why not prepare for autumn by savoring fresh, in-season Pacific saury?