Country-specific regulation and international standardization of cell-based therapeutic products derived from pluripotent stem cells

Currently, many types of cell-based therapeutic products (CTPs) derived from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are being developed in a lot of countries, some of which are in clinical trial stages. CTPs are classified differently in different countries and regions. The evaluation of their efficacy, safety, and quality also differs from that for conventional small-molecule drugs and biopharmaceuticals, which reflects the complex properties of living cells and unmet medical needs. Since there are no international guidelines to evaluate CTPs, including PSC-derived products, it is necessary to be aware of differences in relevant laws and regulations in different countries and regions. International consortia are organized and actively working to standardize/harmonize the evaluation methods and regulations to facilitate the development and global distribution of PSC-derived CTPs. In this paper, we outline the regulations related to PSC-derived CTPs in the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use founding regions (US, EU/UK, Japan) and introduce representative consortia working on their standardization.