Japanese researchers eye COVID treatment derived from stem cells

Immunotherapy creates killer T cells that detect coronavirus markers

20240729N kyoto univ gate

Researchers from Japan's Kyoto University discovered a technique to produce white blood cells that attack COVID-infected cells. (Photo by Yo Inoue)

YUKI MISUMI, Nikkei staff writer

OSAKA -- A Japanese research team is developing an immunotherapy to treat COVID-19 using embryonic stem cells.

The researchers at Kyoto University, led by Hiroshi Kawamoto, have developed a way to genetically engineer embryonic stem cells to produce killer T cells, a type of white blood cell that can search for and destroy infected cells in the body.

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