Science & Technology News from Japan - International Relations

Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft
Confédération suisse
Confederazione Svizzera
Confederaziun svizra
First CT Scan Of Coelacanth-Fish Eggs
Embassy of Switzerland in Japan
State Secretariat for Education and Research SER
(March 20, 2009)
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology carried out what is believed to be the first CT
scan of eggs inside a coelacanth. About 40 eggs were photographed inside each of the two
coelacanths, which were captured off the coast of Tanzania, frozen and transported to Tokyo.
The fishes are 170 cm long and weigh 70 kg each, while their eggs are about 7 cm in
diameter. Coelacanths are thought to represent an early step in the evolution of fish to amphibians.
The eggs hatch while still inside the female and the young grow to 30 cm in length before they emerge.
Antibody Drug For Colorectal Cancer
(March 27, 2009)
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. will market an antibody drug for colorectal cancer. Takeda currently sells only one
such drug for treating prostate cancer and revenue from the cancer field accounts for only around 15% of its total
sales. The company aims to broaden its lineup of cancer drugs because the market for its mainline drugs for blood
pressure and other lifestyle diseases has flattened in Japan. Its patents on drugs for ulcers, blood pressure and
diabetes will be expiring in the U.S. over the next few years. Japan's Health Ministry has approved the monoclonal
antibody drug, for cancers of the colon and rectum.
New Antibody Drug For Ovarian Cancer In Clinical Testing
(March 27, 2009)
Eisai Co. will begin phase III trials in the U.S. on an antibody drug for treating ovarian cancer. The drug was developed
by U.S. biopharmaceutical firm Morphotek Inc., which Eisai acquired in 2007. It is the first of the company's
antibody drug candidates to make it to the third and final phase of clinical testing. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration
recently approved a phase III trial in combination with standard chemotherapy drugs carboplatin and taxane
to treat ovarian cancer. The antibody drug fights cancer in two ways: stimulating the immune system to attack
the cancer cells and blocking a signaling pathway that promotes cell proliferation.
More Efficent Cervical Cancer Vaccine
(March 30, 2009)
The National Institute of Infectious Diseases and other institutions have developed a next-generation vaccine
against human papillomavirus (HPV). While anti-cervical cancer vaccine prevents 60% to 70% of uterine cervical
cancer, the new vaccine is expected to be more effective. Of the 100 different types of HPV, 15 can cause cervical
cancer. Researchers at the institute found in experiments conducted on animals that an antibody made by using a
surface protein commonly found in 15 types of HPV was effective in protecting against at least eight types of HPV.
Vaccines used overseas are effective against only two to four HPV types, as the vaccines are manufactured using
proteins found in specific HPVs.
4. Nano / Micro Technology / Material Science
Various Nanofiber Developments
Tokyo Institute of Technology makes sheets by electro-spinning nanofibers and letting them
pile up at the bottom of a container. It has also managed to grow nanofibers of zinc oxide on
the surface of a sheet of carbon nanofibers. The carbon nanofibers are 100nm in diameter
and the zinc oxide nanofibers are 50nm in diameter. When the surface of these zinc oxide
nanofibers are coated with a photosensitive dye, the construction operates as a type of dyesensitized
solar cell, generating electricity in the presence of sunlight. Kyoto University uses
laser light to fabricate nanofiber structures with diameters of just tens of nanometers inside clear glass.
(March 01, 2009)
Nanofiber Experimental Research For New Technologies
(March 08, 2009)
The Nanofiber Society wants to help make sure Japan stands there at the cutting edge when the fruits of experimental
research seed new nanofiber-related industries. Set up in December of last year, the society is chaired by
Tokyo Institute of Technology Professor Akihiko Tanioka, whose work with organic nanofibers has taken that field
to new heights. But the society is not focused entirely on organic materials and makes a point of soliciting the participation
of specialists from the various branches of materials science, including inorganic materials and metals.
Japan has already made a contribution to global research in this field.
Science & Technology News from Japan, Template 2009 • Felix Moesner, Science & Technology Attaché Page 6 of 28